



J^BMINISCENCES 



OF THE 



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CIVIL WAR 



MACON 




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Class C Jf-n O 
Book f^ 

7)777 

Copyright N° / 



COPVRIGHT DEPOSn^ 



EEMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAK 




EiniA Cassandra Riely JIacon at the Age op Fourteen 
Costume described at page 34 



REMINISCENCES 
OFTHECIVILWAR 



BY 

EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 

AND 

REUBEN CONWAY MACON 

Adjutant, Thirteenth Virginia Infantry 

Ewell's Division, Stonewall Jackson's 

Corps, C. S. A. 



1861-5 
Written 1896 



PRIVATELY PRINTED 
NINETEEN HUNDRED ELEVEN 



.5 



Copyrighted Dkcembf.r, 191i 
By K. C. M. PAULSON 



The Torch Prkss 

ceoar rapids 

Iowa 



\] 



)CI.A30545IO 



PREFACE 

At the request of my daughter, Kate Conway 
Macon Paulson, I have consented to write my recol- 
lections of incidents pertaining to the War of 1861-65 
to be handed down to my grandchildren and probably 
to my great grandchildren. But before entering 
upon the recital, I feel it but due to myself to make 
certain explanations, as my grandchildren will be 
educated in a more enlightened and cultured age. 

I was but thirteen years of age when the war began. 
Schools soon closed and many fled from their homes, 
my sister Kate and myself among the number. I 
did not attend school again, as the war closed in 
April, 1865, and I maiTied in November of the same 
year. Therefore, I must beg that these facts be 
borne in mind and great leniency be observed in 
reading these pages, remembering my limited oppor- 
tunities in early life, owing to the war. To my 
granddaughters, who will no doubt and should dis- 
approve of my early "turning out" and marriage, I 
can only plead as an excuse my early orphanage in 
1862 and the peculiar circumstances surrounding me 
in times of war. The sight of a young girl or woman 



6 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

was so rare as well as refresliing to the soldiers, that 
wherever the army encamped they would flock to your 
houses and every girl was compelled to be a belle. I 
was soon a full fledged young lady as far as dress 
and manners were concerned. 

Emma Cassandea Eiely Macon 
Chestnut Hill, Orange county, Virginia, February 
17, 1896. 



KEMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAE 

BY 

EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 

Bom October 1, 1847, 
at Winchester, Virginia 



REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 
1861 

Winchester, my home and birthplace, is situated 
in the lower Shenandoah Valley, thirty miles from 
Harper's PeiTy to which point all Confederate troops 
hurried to take possession of the United States 
Arsenal and workshops. There were no railroads 
anywhere in the Valley at that time from Stanton to 
Winchester, and all troops had to march that distance 
before being transferred in cars from Winchester to 
Harper's Ferry. The Confederacy was then in its 
infancy, the quartermaster had no tents and scarcely 
any provisions prepared for them, and when the dear 
brave fellows — the flower of the land — who had 
just left their comfortable homes and reached Win- 
chester footsore, weary, and hungry in changeable 
April weather, often in rain, the patriotic citizens 
could not see them turned out on Mother Earth with 
nothing but the sky to cover them, so they sent word 
to the quartermaster to divide them out among the 
people, which he did for weeks, until tents could be 
procured for them. Many a night, every bed, as well 
as the floors of the house, were filled with soldiers. 



10 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

One night, Capt. J. H. Moore, of the 11th Mississippi 
regiment, was sent to us with twelve of his men to be 
taken care of for the night. I knew him well after- 
ward, for whenever his regiment was encamped near 
Winchester, he was a frequent visitor at our house. 
He was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, and five 
years after the war a letter was advertised in Win- 
chester for Miss Emma Riely. My brother sent it to 
me; it proved to be from Captain Moore's brother, 
living in Helena, Arkansas, saying he had just recov- 
ered his brother's Bible and diary which were on his 
person when killed and were stained with his life's 
blood. He said that he had found my name on many 
pages with comments and wished to know if I was 
married or single, and how situated. We have corre- 
sponded regularly since and quite a warm attach- 
ment has sprung up between us. 

The ladies soon busied themselves making clothes 
and knitting socks for the soldiers. Sewing and 
knitting societies were formed and met evei-y few 
days. I did not prove an adept at either — I suc- 
ceeded in finishing one sock in the four years but the 
man would have had to be deformed to wear it for 
it was a succession of bumps all down the leg. Never 
having perseverance to knit a companion to it, I one 
day smuggled it into a box of clotliing which was to 
be sent to camp, hoping it would be a comfort to some 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 11 

poor unfortunate who had had one foot amputated. 
Nothing of any particular interest occurred that year 
that I can now recall except that Harper's Ferry was 
abandoned finally and the troops all encamped around 
Winchester under command of General Joseph E. 
Johnston. The girls all had a good time, for brass 
buttons and gold lace were very attractive. General 
Johnston was later on ordered to Manassas for the 
first battle there and we were left quiet for a time. 

Winter of 1861 and 1862 

General Jackson had encamped in Winchester that 
winter and in the latter part of February a malignant 
type of scarlet fever broke out in our family. My 
mother was ill at the time, having been paralyzed. 
Everyone avoided the house on account of the fever, 
and it was with difiSculty that we could get a minister 
to burv' the dead, our minister having a family of 
young children. Katie Gordon, my niece, died the 
night of the day that she was taken sick. My little 
sister, Mary Percival, was taken sick Friday evening 
and died on Sunday morning. Two children of our 
cook died during the same week. My youngest sister, 
Evelyn, and my mother were both veiy ill. My 
mother's sister, then Mrs. O'Bannon, a widow, now 
Mrs. Lewis B. Williams (and living with me at 
present) , was living with us at the time, taking care 



12 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

of us as our mother was an invalid. She continued 
to live with us and be a mother to us as long as we 
kept our house and were together. She afterwards 
came to Orange, Virginia, to live with me, where she 
married a second time and is again a widow. She 
is proverbial for her flow of spirits and is very 
amusing, giving the comical side to everything. She 
is often referred to in these reminiscences as auntie, 
or Aunt Em. 

My mother lingered until the Saturday after my 
sister's death. On Sunday, it was rumored that 
General Jackson was going to evacuate AVinchester 
and leave it in the hands of the enemy. My brothers, 
two of whom were with him, feared they would be 
ordered off before the funeral, which was to take 
place on Monday morning. Monday afternoon my 
brother, Chap, came in and said it was tnie that 
Jackson would leave the next day, and that Kate 
(now Mrs. Latimer Small) and myself must get ready 
to leave as he was not willing that we should remain 
behind. We had never seen a Yankee in uniform 
then and imagined even women and children were 
unsafe in their hands. We rebelled very much at 
leaving auntie alone with Evelyn who was still so 
ill, but she said the carriage and horses had to be 
taken out of the lines and we must get in and go also ; 
that we need only take a small trunk as we would be 



EIMIMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 13 

absent but a short time, probably only a week or two, 
as the movement was supposed to be only a decoy 
to entice the Yankees, as we called all the troops, up 
the Valley, then to give battle, whip, and capture 
them. We had no time to prepare any mourning so 
we could only throw into our trunks such as we had, 
which was poor at best. 

A friend was hurriedly dispatched to furnish, if 
possible, two crepe bonnets and veils, and she suc- 
ceeded in finding two, either of which were old enough 
in style for our grandmother, if she had been living. 

We set out for Mt. Airy, the beautiful home of 
my friends, the Meems's. Mt. Airy is the finest 
estate in the upper Shenandoah Valley, and is quite 
a historic place now as the battle known in history as 
Rhode 's Hill was fought on part of it. Not far from it, 
the battle of Newmarket was fought, where the young 
boys from the Virginia Military Institute were called 
out, and, children as they were, sacrificed their lives 
for their country. Mt. Airy is just outside of Mt. 
Jackson, a village in the Valley of Virginia, where 
before and during the war they kept open house, own- 
ing hundreds of slaves. Some had been taught to 
play on different musical instruments until they had 
a fine band, and the house being always filled with 
guests, dancing was one of the principal amusements. 
After remaining there for a week, my brother found 



14 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

Jackson was going to fall back beyond there and we 
would have to go over to Luray, which we did, stop- 
ping with Mrs. Meems 's mother, Mrs. Jordan. She 
was also an old friend of the family. After lea\ang 
Kate and myself with these friends, my brother took 
the carriage and horses on to Stanton. Later devel- 
opments proved that we had just as well stayed in 
Winchester, for General Shields of the United States 
Army came into Luray and encamped there and part 
of his staff had headquarters in the Jordan house. 

While there, they arrested every male citizen in 
the town, keeping them confined in the court house 
building two weeks, giving them the option of taking 
the oath of allegiance to the United States govern- 
ment, or going to prison. This oath made you swear 
on a Bible that you would never, by word or act, give 
aid or succor to the rebellion, as the Yankees called 
the Southern Confederacy. Very few could take this 
oath without pain because they had sons and relatives 
in our army. To promise never to give them shelter, 
food, or raiment was next to impossible. There were 
some who were not scrupulous about an oath and were 
fainthearted and willing to swear to anything rather 
than go to prison indefinitely, leaving their families 
to suffer in their absence. After taking the oath 
they were released, but much the larger portion was 
sent to prison. 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 15 

General Shields left Luray to fight the battle of 
Port Republic and returaed there after his defeat by 
Stonewall Jackson. The battle of Cross Keys, in 
which your father was wounded the first time, was 
fought on Sunday, and Port Republic on Monday. 

There lived in Luray Mr. John Lionberger, who 
was a Union man ; that is, he was opposed to the war 
and was a member of the Virginia convention held to 
decide whether Virginia should remain in the Union. 
He voted against secession which, at the time when 
the feeling ran very high and when everj'one not with 
us was considered a traitor, made him very unpop- 
ular. He had an only son, a handsome youth of nine- 
teen years who, notwithstanding his father's opposi- 
tion, entered our army. The Lionbergers were own 
cousins to the Jordans, so Kate and myself stayed as 
much at one house as at the other. John Lionberger 
fell desperately in love with Kate. One night when 
all Luray was asleep, two soldiers crept into the 
town, which was not occupied at that time by either 
army but was subject to raids or dashes from either 
side. These two soldiers had obtained leave of ab- 
sence from their respective commanders, pleading 
sickness, which in reality was only love sickness. 
Captain Harris, who was on General Wilcox's staff, 
of North Carolina, was engaged to Miss Lionberger. 
(He was in Congress last session from Kansas). 



16 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

John Lionberger was sick to see Kate. They had to 
steal in at night so that no one (particularly the 
servants) should know that they were ther^, for 
should the enemy come in suddenly upon them and 
the information be given, they would be made pris- 
oners at once. It was in mild spring weather and the 
Lionberger girls kept them locked in their guest 
chamber until the servants, having finished their 
morning housework, had returned to their cabins. 

Then began the search for some good hiding place 
for them, should the Yankees come in suddenly. Their 
garret was one that could only be reached by a ladder 
that came down in a large closet and was seldom, if 
ever, used. Up in this garret the sides of the wall 
had been ceiled or planked up as far as the sloping of 
the roof would admit. The young men decided to saw 
out a square piece large enough for them to crawl 
through and then the piece could be fitted back after 
they had gone through by some one on the outside 
and something carelessly set in front of the opening. 
Having arranged all the details carefully, they began 
to prepare to enjoy themselves. 

One of the girls sent a note up to the Jordans invit- 
ing Kate down to spend a week. I could not at the 
time understand why I was left out of the invitation 
but I continued to go down once or twice a day and 
often felt convinced that the girls were losing their 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 17 

minds as they were very prim and prudish, or silly 
and giggling hy turns. I afterwards understood it 
all. The young men were under the bed when I was 
letting my tongue loose, unconscious of their pres- 
ence. Everyone had to economize in those days and 
when our army was not there, they made a sitting 
room of one of their chambers. 

The Lionberger's chamber had a handsome old 
fashioned poster bedstead, such as Noah must have 
used when in deep water. I thought when a child 
they were lovely and for fear my grandchildren may 
never see one, I will describe them. Some were 
exceedingly handsome — posts six or seven feet high, 
beautifully carved rosewood or mahogany. These 
four posts were held together at the top by a carved 
railing like a window cornice. In winter handsome 
dark red or chintz and in summer lace or dotted 
muslin curtains were draped from the railing and 
gracefully caught to each post and tied with colored 
ribbons and bows or else with cord and tassels. 
Around the bottom was a frill or valance gathered 
full which hid from view all under the bed which was 
three feet from the floor. A pair of steps prettily 
painted and covered with bright carpet was brought 
out every night and put by the side of the bed, for 
they were very necessary in order to reach this place 
of repose. I used to imagine I was ascending the 



18 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

steps to a throne. The getting there was altogether 
pleasant but if nightmare overtook you and you fell 
out, a dislocated spine was the sure result. 

This was the style of bedstead these young men 
were secreted under whenever visitors arrived, so 
that they might have the benefit of the news and 
gossip unobserved. A slight festoon in the frill 
allowed them to watch many things which caused 
violent giggling spells among the girls. On one occa- 
sion I made a bad break. Fleas had become hungry 
like everything else in the Confederacy and had taken 
the town by storm ; on this occasion, they seemed to 
have taken a special liking for me. A whole regi- 
ment had taken possession of my anatomy and jump- 
ing up suddenly with the intention of annihilating 
several hundred, I found myself seized by the arms 
and I was hustled off into an adjoining room amidst 
peals of laughter. Thinking I had fallen among 
lunatics and recognizing suppressed male laughter, I 
demanded an explanation and they had to tell me the 
whole secret of the mystery for fear I would create 
another sensation, but I would rather have faced a 
cannon ball than those young men, so I took my 
companions and beat a hasty retreat. 

A few days later, we wakened one morning to find 
the town full of Yankee soldiers, and they had come 
to stay, and, of course, we were exceedingly anxious 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 19 

about the young men who were in Mr. Lionberger's 
house. The servants had by this time caught glimpses 
of trays being carried up stairs. AVliilst they did 
not know for whom intended, they strongly suspected 
they were for soldiers and soon informed the author- 
ities they were there. Yankee soldiers came in 
squads for two days and searched, but could not find 
them, which only enraged them for they were con- 
vinced that, if not in that house, they were secreted 
somewhere in the town. The young men became 
alarmed when they heard that the order had been 
issued to search everj' house in town until they were 
found. Sentinels were placed every fifty yards on 
the street to prevent their escape. 

Luray, at that time, had only one well of water to 
supply six or eight families, so the Lionbergers got 
their supply of water across the street. The young 
men and girls held a consultation over the situation 
and decided something must be done at once or they 
would be prisoners, so they concluded to hire one of 
the citizens to flank the pickets and go out and tell 
Colonel Harry Gilmore the danger they were in and 
ask him to dash in suddenly with his cavalry and 
surprise the Yankees, if only long enough to rescue 
them. It was then thought best to separate, for if 
the Yankees should get as far as Mr. Lionberger's 
in the search before Gilmore came, if both were in the 



20 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

same house, both would be captured. So when nearly 
dark the sentinel was asked if we could go across the 
street and get water for the night and morning, to 
which he consented. John Lionberger with his sister's 
dress on over his uniform and a sunbonnet on his 
head with two girls, also wearing sunbonnets, each 
carrying a bucket, went across the street and into 
Miss Overall's back yard to get water. John Lion- 
berger, Kate, and Sallie Lionberger remained, and 
Miss Overall, the white hired girl, and myself re- 
turned with the water, for I had spent the night 
before with my cousin. Miss Overall, who was also a 
refugee. 

We were not allowed by the sentinel (who passed 
all night long in front of the house to prevent the 
escape of the young men) to have any lights and we 
had lots of fun creeping around in the dark, not 
knowing whether we were encountering friend or foe, 
but knowing the house would be searched very early 
(possibly before we were out of bed). We had to be 
prepared accordingly, so Captain Harris had to be 
put away in his cramped quarters under the rafters 
to be ready for the searching party. When day 
dawned, all was in readiness. 

At Overall's, they made John Lionberger divest 
himself of his coat, vest, and shoes. The mattress 
was taken off and he got in on the slats, putting his 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 21 

wearing apparel alongside of him. Then the mattress 
was put on top of him, extra pillows being used to 
make it level underneath. The bed was then made 
up and his sister, in her calico wrapper, with her 
head bound up in cabbage leaves, was at the first 
signal of the approach of the searching party, to get 
in bed on top of him and when they entered the room 
to search, she was to be heaving violently and Kate 
Eiely to be holding the bowl for her, which would 
prevent their removing the beds, as they often did in 
searching one's house. 

Ten o'clock had arrived and they were searching 
Mr. Flynn's house, next door to Lionberger's, 
and anxiety was at its highest tension for we had 
about abandoned all hope of rescue by Gilmore and 
taken it for granted that the men sent out had either 
been captured or had failed to find him. Just as all 
hope had vanished, simultaneously with a volley of 
musketry in the street we recognized the famous 
"Eebel yell," never to be forgotten by those whose 
good fortune it has been to hear it. Looking out, we 
saw the Yankee cavalry, sentinels, searching party, 
and all i-unning and firing as they ran, and soon 
Colonel Gilmore 's dear face appeared at the head 
of his men. They drove the enemy to the extreme 
end of the town, which gave the prisoners time to get 
out of their hiding places. John Lionberger came 



22 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

out in his sock feet and shirt sleeves and jumped up 
behind a cavalryman, and Captain Harris did the 
same. We all rushed into the street, huzzahing and 
waving our handkerchiefs, and gave them a hearty 
welcome. Sallie Lionberger (who was a beauty) in 
the excitement forgot to remove the bandage and 
cabbage leaves, and with wrapper on appeared at the 
door to wave to them. The Yankees soon saw the 
purpose of the raid and that there were only about 
one hundred and fifty or two hundred men with 
Grilmore, so they quickly rallied and charged Gilmore, 
who immediately beat a hasty retreat. 

It was found that Bettie Jordan had a narrow 
escape. When she heard the firing she rushed to the 
window just as a bullet crashed through the glass and 
imbedded itself in the wall back of her, but the par- 
ticles of glass had cut her face badly. 

We were busy rejoicing over the release of the 
young men and hoping they would not be overtaken 
when a guard of men arrived with orders from the 
general commanding us to pack and be ready to leave 
the house in a few hours and be put into our lines. 
The house was to be burned to the ground as a pun- 
ishment for our treason. It did not disturb Kate and 
myself very much for we were without a home just 
then and all we had pretty much was on our backs, 
but poor old Mr. Lionberger was in a frenzied state 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 23 

at the prospect of losing his home and, worst of all, 
he was innocent of any knowledge of the boys being 
hidden in his house all this time. 

He was a widower and almost in a melancholy state 
over the war, being, as I said, before a Union man 
not in sympathy with his people. His apartments 
were in a wing of the house and he was a great reader 
and apparently oblivious to his surroundings. So 
imagine his astonishment and dismay to find himself 
and family in such a predicament. He hurried at once 
to the general's headquarters and pleaded with him 
for hours to spare his home and rescind the orders 
putting us out of the lines promising it should never 
occur again under any circumstances. The girls in 
the meantime, fearing the worst, were gathering to- 
gether some of their possessions but like most young 
people not realizing the gravity of the situation. We 
were rather elated at the prospect of seeing all our 
friends and wondering if there was any chance of 
seeing Colonel So-and-So, Captain or Mr. So-and-So, 
and looking forward with pleasure to that time when 
we should land in the Confederacy. I can recall poor 
old Mr. Lionberger's exliausted condition when he 
returned just before dark, to say the general had at 
last consented to allow us to remain. 

In the latter part of May, "Stonewall" Jackson's 
army passed through Luray enroute to Winchester 



/?^3k 



24 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

to drive General Banks out. Kate and myself were 
overjoyed at seeing our brothers and friends, expect- 
ing to follow on behind them as soon as the excite- 
ment of the battle was over. 

It was on this march that Mr. Macon tells of passing 
a farm house just outside Luray where a female stood 
in the doorway waving her handkerchief to the sol- 
diers as they passed by. A man from the ranks yelled 
out, "Oh! Lady, that's mighty pretty but can't you 
throw us a piece of meat and bread!" and finally, a 
soldier stepped up to her and said, "Madam, won't 
you give me a piece of bread?" "I am sorry but 
there isn't a piece in the house." "Well, Madam, 
anything in the way of something to eat will be ac- 
ceptable. " "I am very sorry, but the army has been 
passing all day long and I have given all I hiave 
away. " " Madam, could you give me a glass of milk, 
then ? " "I am so sorry but they have drank up every 
drop." "Well, Madam, give me a glass of water, 
then." "I am so sorry but there isn't a drop in the 
house, but the servant has gone to the spring for 
some, but the spring is some distance from the 
house." "Well, Madam, then, can't you give me a 
kiss?" It is needless to add that she still declined, 
but he thought he had at last hit ui>on something she 
could contribute to the cause. It had the effect at 
least of amusing and cheering up the poor weary 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 25 

Confederates as they halted before her door, waiting 
for orders to march. 

In Winchester, the citizens were all on the qui-vive, 
as Banks had possession of the town, and when they 
heard that Jackson was moving down the Luray Val- 
ley, there was suppressed anxiety among them and 
excitement as to the result. The Yankees were ex- 
pecting Jackson down the Shenandoah Valley, for 
they did not know then of this short valley, called the 
Massanutten Valley, from Newmarket (via Luray) 
to Front Eoyal. Jackson had made a forced march, 
and completely surprising the enemy at Front Eoyal, 
had captured a large quantity of stores and provi- 
sions. Our men were exhausted from the long forced 
march, with but little food, and were compelled to 
rest that night at Front Royal, which gave the enemy 
time to retreat to Winchester, eighteen miles distant. 
But early the next morning, Jackson was at their 
heels and they ran pell mell through the streets. 

My aunt gave a very amusing account of how she 
tried to find out what was the matter when she saw 
them running by the house, dropping canteens, coffee 
pots, skillets, etc., but no one would stop long enough 
to answer her. After awhile she heard a great noise 
and, looking out, saw an officer running, his sword 
clanking on the pavement with every step. He was 
so large and fat that he could scarcely get along and 



26 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

was then completely out of breath. His tongue was 
hanging out and he was panting audibly with each 
step, and she said to herself, here's my chance — he 
will be glad to stop long enough to talk and rest, so 
as soon as he got near enough, she said in her most 
pleading tones, ' ' Oh ! do please stop and tell me what 
on earth is the matter." "My God, Madam, I haven't 
time. The Rebs are upon us and I '11 be captured if 
I stop. ' ' So without ever halting, he pushed on, too 
weary even to hold up his sword. History records 
all the details of the capture, so I will pass on and 
only add that our servants all ran off with the Yankees 
and were captured and brought back, protesting they 
only ran because they were afraid they would be 
killed if there was a battle in Winchester. 

Just as Kate and myself were getting ready to set 
out for home, we heard that Jackson was falling back, 
leaving Winchester again in the hands of the enemy. 
We were greatly distressed for, having gone out hur- 
riedly prepared for two weeks' absence, three months 
had elapsed, and our wardrobes were sadly in need 
of replenishing. A month later Belle Boyd, the Con- 
federate female spy, was in Winchester and my aunt 
got her to bring us a carjDet bag full of clothes when 
she ran the blockade. I am sure it was opened and 
its contents were admired with as eager delight, as 
ever a trunkful of Paris creations of modern date has 



EMjMA CASSANDRA RIELY JIACON 27 

been by one of your society belles of the present day. 
How you would all laugh now if you could only have 
seen some of the costimies worn by us during the 
war and which we considered so fetching then. Skirt 
braid, made of all gay colors of worsted, was our only 
trimming, and we would have row after row and 
bunch after bunch tearing around our skirts in the 
wildest curves or plaited up to represent ribbon. Our 
hair would be decorated with it also in place of rib- 
bons, which were not to be had. Popcorn strung on 
threads and wound in our hair and around our necks 
was supposed to represent pearls and was our decor- 
ation for party occasions. This was a most conve- 
nient fashion as our parties were all of the starvation 
order (nothing to eat), and if one became very hun- 
gry, a few strands of popcorn were very convenient 
and acceptable. 

When Jackson withdrew from Winchester, he left 
some of his sick and wounded behind in hospitals and 
private houses. My aunt had at our house Mr. Lewis 
and servant from Louisiana. Few young men in the 
Southern anny were without their men servants to 
wait upon them. 

Very soon after the Yankees returned to Win- 
chester, my aunt and sister waited one morning for 
the summons to breakfast and not hearing the usual 
troop of servants in the house, my sister, Mrs. Gor- 



28 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

don, who has an impediment in her speech, got up to 
investigate the matter. She soon returned and said 
to my aunt, "Dit out of dat bed. Every last nidder 
[negro] has run off and how on earth are we doin' to 
dit breakfast," for neither of them knew the first 
rudiments of cooking. Simon, Mr. Lewis's servant, 
proved invaluable in this line as he had been a cook 
on his master's plantation. Thirteen of our servants 
had gone in a gang. Mr. Lewis was paroled by the 
enemy and told to report to the hospital as soon as 
able, to be sent off to prison. He was not in a hurry 
to exchange his comfortable home for prison life; 
therefore, he feigned illness long after he was really 
able to go. One day my aunt heard the Yankees were 
going all around town, examining the sick and wound- 
ed in private houses, preparatory to sending them to 
prison. Mr. Lewis was loath to go and planned to 
deceive them and thereby put off the evil hour a little 
longer if possible. 

Evelyn Eiely, now Mrs. Wolcott, then a child of six 
or seven years of age, had been extremely ill with 
scarlet fever, as I mentioned in the early part of my 
story, and after getting nearly over that, was taken 
with a relapse which proved to be brain fever, or what 
would be termed now spinal meningitis, her head be- 
ing drawn back upon her spine and her eyes crossed. 
She was just recovering from this last attack, though 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 29 

still in bed, and after she had fallen asleep, it was 
decided that Mr. Lewis should get in with her very 
quietly, lest he should arouse her and she would want 
to know what he was doing there and make him get 
out. When the examining party came, he was to pull 
the cover up over his mustache while Evelyn was to 
be fixed so as not to be discernible. They did not 
reach our house until after the lamps were lighted 
and my aunt met them at the front door with a 
"Hush ! hush ! Please be very qioiet. I have a very 
ill child with a malignant type of scarlet fever. She 
has just fallen asleep and I fear if your footsteps 
should arouse her and she finds her room full of 
soldiers, the shock will be fatal, so I beg of you, if 
possible, to spare me this risk tonight. Mr. Lewis is 
also quite sick. ' ' Being mortally afraid of the fever, 
they only went to the door and looked in to assure 
themselves there was really some one in bed, and 
turned and left the house quietly as requested. They 
did not come again until the next batch of prisoners 
were ready to be sent off. "V\^ien Mr. Lewis could no 
longer deceive them, he bade adieu to his new friends 
who, though a stranger, had taken him into their 
hearts and home. 

He left a rich legacy in Simon, his faithful servant, 
begging us to take good care of him until he should 
be exchanged and return to the army. He stayed 



30 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

with us and was a treasure. I always had my doubts 
about Simon. He parted his hair in the middle, 
which was not at all the custom in those days, wore 
earrings, and had a most effeminate voice. He was 
a devout Episcopalian and never omitted services, 
attending with prayer book in hand, for he could read, 
which was not the case with a great manj^ slaves. He 
delighted in singing Southern war songs and loved to 
hear us sing them, "Maryland, my Maryland" being; 
one of his favorites imtil he followed his master under 
Stonewall Jackson the summer of 1862 into Maiyland 
when the troops marched day after day to that tune. 
After the battle of Sharpsburg, or Antietam, Simon 
reached our house after dark and we did not know he 
was on the place until his dusky face appeared at the 
parlor door where Kate and myself were fairly 
splitting our throats singing "Maryland, my Mary- 
land." At sight of him, we stopped to greet him 
and to ask about the troops. He began by saying 
"For God sake, don't never sing dat ar tune no more. 
I'se bin marchin' and a marchin' to dat ar tune all 
day long and I never does want to hear Maryland, my 
Maryland no more, as long as dere's bref in me. I 
dun seed all I wants to see of Maryland, my Mary- 
land. God knows I is, for a fact." 

Our house soon filled up with wounded from that 
battle. Two were in each vacant room, among them 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 31 

General Smith, better known in Virginia's history as 
"Extra Billy," and three times governor of Virginia. 
His companion was Colonel Catlett Gilson, an officer 
in his brigade. We found out later that they were 
not on speaking terms but by accident had been put 
into the same ambulance when wounded and sent to 
our house, and there they remained for weeks without 
ever exchanging a word. 

Imagine what a cheerful time they must have had, 
especially in the "wee sma' hours" of the night, both 
suffering agony from wounds and neither exchanging 
a word of sjTnpathy for the other. If they had been 
women, I bet they would have broken the silence at 
any cost. 

To return to Luray where Kate and myself were 
still detained as Jackson fell back, going up the Shen- 
andoah Valley, and Shields came to Luray. Finding 
ourselves again in the enemy's lines, we had to con- 
tent ourselves as best we could. July and August 
were quiet, uneventful months to us in Luray and we 
grew terribly homesick. I longed to be at home once 
more to see auntie, Evelyn, and my brother Charles 
who had been living in St. Joseph, Missouri, and had 
not been home for twelve years. But on account of 
sjTnpathy, openly expressed, for the South, he had 
been given twenty-four hours to leave the place and 
had recently arrived in Winchester, intending later 



32 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

to join the Southern army. Recent letters from home, 
which had been smuggled through the lines, had 
informed us of his arrival there and his great desire 
to see Kafe and myself. Then, too, I was a dear 
lover of coffee and I longed once more for a taste of 
the genuine article, for I was surfeited with Con- 
federate coffee which was rye, washed and ground, 
and for lack of sugar, sweetened with honey or mo- 
lasses, so you can imagine what a dose it was. To- 
wards the close of the war, even this would have been 
considered a luxury, for when rye could not be had, 
toasted com, chestnuts, or sweet potatoes, toasted 
and ground, were used. As it no longer deserved 
the name of coffee, we dubed it "beverage" in deri- 
sion. Unlike coffee, tlie longer you boiled it, the 
better it was and my dear friend Miss Sherrard 
always put her breakfast "beverage" on the stove 
the niglit before and as the fire rarely ever went out, 
it simmered all night and a prime article was ready 
for breakfast. 

In August I grew restless and desperate and felt 
as though I could not stand separation from home 
any longer. I proposed to Kate that we should hire 
a conveyance and driver and go home. "WliatI 
through the Yankee lines," she exclaimed. I said, 
"Yes, I feel like I would be willing to encounter the 
whole army rather than stay any longer." She said 



EMMA CASSANDRA RTELY MACON 33 

slio proposed to remain where she was, so I doter- 
mined to see if I could find any one who would go 
witli me. A Miss Bnrrackcr, wlio had rdatives in 
Chirke county (just below Winchester), afj:reed to go 
with me. The next difiiculty that confronted us was 
to find a suitable driver and aii old horse tiiat the 
Yankees wouldn't take if you offered to give it to 
them. After many discouragements, I succeeded 
in getting Mr. Hart to drive. He was one of the 
citizens mentioned in the early part of my recital 
who took the "oath of allegiance" rather than go to 
prison. He agreed to furnish wagon and horse, and 
as I thought he had more judgment about wliat would 
be necessary to carry us to our place of destination 
I left the matter to him and asked no further ques- 
tions. 

The night before we were to start, he came to tell 
me that there would be another passenger to take 
along, but feeling perfect confidence in his ability to 
manage the tour, I did not demur. The next morning 
I was told the vehicle was at the door and all made 
ready to see me set off on this risky expedition, not 
knowing whether I would be permitted to enter Win- 
chester after all my trouble. 

It was not an arduous task bringing out my lug- 
gage, for 1 had only a small carpet bag, and that not 
crowded, which held all my worldly goods. T laugh 



34 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL "WAR 

even now as I recall how ridiculously I was attired for 
this long ride of forty-three miles which was to con- 
sume nearly two days in hot August weather. Think- 
ing perliaps you will be entertained with a description 
of it, I will describe my outfit for you. The crepe bon- 
net and veil that were purchased so hurriedly on 
leaving home was of the coal scuttle shape, wide flar- 
ing front, the same in style as I had seen my grand- 
mother wear, being much too old in style for my 
mother's day. A profusion of quillings and bows 
adorned the outside, and the veil was adjusted by 
means of a silk cord run through a narrow hem and 
then tied on to the bonnet. Although only fourteen 
years of age, I could readily have been taken for 
Mrs. Noah. Large hoopskirts were all the rage then 
and I had deemed myself very fortunate in securing 
one of the largest. It would have been more sensible 
to have left them behind in Luray, as space was a 
thing to be considered in this crowded vehicle, but I 
could not make up my mind to part with the only 
stylish part of my paraphernalia, so I wore them, 
even at the risk of getting tied up in the wheels. This 
expensive crinoline was covered by a dress of black 
serge, flounced to the knees. It was cut with a round 
neck and bell sleeves, allowing the August rays to 
penetrate more easily. A pair of congress gaiters 
made of black worsted stuff and having gum ribbing 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 35 

on the sides completed this remarkable attire. The 
sole of each shoe was an inch thick with letters which 
elevated my foot when in the shoe so as to make the 
ankle of it sti'ike me across the instep. You can 
imagine the comfort ! These letters were given to me 
to be smuggled through the lines and were from young 
men in the army to their families and friends in 
Winchester and Baltimore. 

Having described my outfit, I must now tell you 
about the handsome equipage and the proud prancing 
steed that was to convey me to my home. When it 
was announced that both were at the door waiting, 
the entire household arose to say "good-bye." They 
expected to see me return in the next few days, as 
they thought it extremely doubtful if I would be al- 
lowed to enter Winchester. Altogether it was a most 
unwise venture on my part. When we reached the 
street, peal after peal of laughter rent the air as the 
girls caught sight of the turnout, and when I put my 
organs of vision upon it, my heart sank within me and 
I think I would have abandoned the trip then and 
there if I had not disliked to be teased, and the more 
the girls laughed and ridiculed, the more resolved I 
became to brave all and go. 

The wagon was called a "jersey." Every part of 
it had long since seen its best days. Straw had been 
put in the bottom and cushions out of an old carriage 



36 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

were put on top of it for us to sit on. The front seat 
was to be occupied by Mr. Hart and a poor half dead 
Confederate soldier who had consumption and had 
taten the oath that he might go home to die. The 
horse was supposed to be bay in color but his hide 
stuck so close to his bones that the sun had faded him 
a terra cotta. You could count every rib in his body, 
and his hip bones would have furnished an excellent 
rack for my expansive hoops (which were then scrap- 
ing the wheels) if I could only have been allowed a 
front seat, but as I was situated, mine scraped the 
wheels, whilst Miss B.'s hung over the back of the 
wagon. In addition to his feeble aspect, this proud 
steed had springhalt and jerked up one leg at each 
step as though he had trodden on a hot coal of fire. 
Nothing daunted, though, I set out amidst peals of 
laughter and a merry "good-bye" from all. 

Luray was twenty-five miles from Front Royal, and 
Front Royal was eighteen miles from Winchester. 
We made an early start, expecting to reach Front 
Royal early in the afternoon, have a good night's 
rest, and set out early next morning. But, alas ! we 
were sadly disappointed, for although the days were 
long, it was dark when we reached there, for we had 
not gone ten miles from Luray before the old horse 
showed decided symptoms of a general collapse. In 
fact, for awhile it was a serious question which would 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 37 

depart first, the soldier or the horse, for the August 
rays had not proved strengthening to either. We 
turned into the first piece of woodland we came to as 
soon as we discovered it was imperative, and whilst 
we ate our lunch and discussed the situation, the sol- 
dier stretched himself out in the bottom of the wagon, 
saying he could no longer sit up. The nag greedily 
devoured what seemed to be his first square meal, for 
I am sure even an X-ray would have failed to find 
any suspicion even of food in his stomach before this 
meal. 

^VTien it was decided to set out again, Mr. Hart 
informed us we three would have to walk, as it was 
all the horse could do to pull the wagon and soldier. 
As it was "Hobson's choice" I took up the line of 
march in my new shoes, and as I walked I could feel 
the letters settling and my foot gaining further en- 
trance into the shoe. Whenever we came to a stream, 
we had an opportunity to rest whilst the wheels 
soaked, for the tires threatened to leave us constant- 
ly. Occasionally we were allowed to get in and ride 
a mile or so, but Mr. Hart walked all the way, for he 
was a large stout man, whilst Miss B. and myself 
weighed about 115 pounds each. 

We expected to spend the night with Miss Turner 
at Front Royal, and when we drove up to her house 
and told her of our intention (it was then dusk) she 



38 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

said she would be glad to entertain us, but if it was 
our intention to go to Winchester next day, we would 
have to cross the Shenandoah river that night, as the 
Yankees were preparing then to evacuate Front 
Royal and were then firing the bridges behind them. 
We would have to hurry if we expected to cross. 

The river forks at Front Royal, and before the war 
two handsome iron bridges spanned each fork of this 
river, but they had been burned some time before and 
pontoon bridges, which were bridges made of boats 
for transporting troops across, had been substituted, 
and it was these bridges they were preparing to bum. 

As we looked towards the river we saw the lights 
and hurried on. Wlien we reached there, we found 
they had great piles of lightwood (pine) first to the 
right and then to the left at intervals of a few feet 
and they had already begun to set fire to them. As 
we crossed, the flames were so uncomfortably near us 
that we had to clamp our hoops to our sides, and walk 
behind the wagon. If the old nag had seemed slow 
before, now, in our feverish anxiety to get out of 
danger of the flames, he appeared a veritable snail. 
We feared every moment that the spokes of the 
wheels would catch, and certainly our tires were not 
being improved. I felt several times as if I would 
like to apply a torch to him to see if even that would 
induce him to "get a move on himself," for we had 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 39 

yet to cross the other fork of the river and were 
growing uneasy about the condition of that bridge 
when we would reach it. Being pitch dark, save for 
the lights from the fires, we could not calculate dis- 
tance. 

Just as we stepped off the last bridge in an ex- 
hausted condition, we came upon a large body of 
cavalry drawn up in the road. An officer stepped out 
and cried, "Halt! halt!" It is needless to say that 
we did not persist in going on. He asked who we 
were and where we were going, etc. On being told 
that I was going to my home in Winchester and the 
men had taken the oath, he said that we could pro- 
ceed. It was so dark we could scarcely see our way. 
All of us were walking, as we had been for miles, ex- 
cept the soldier who lay in the wagon. 

Mr. Hart had lived in that neighborhood for years 
and knew all the people and roads, but the darkness 
had confused him and he said to the officer, "Which 
is the road to Winchester!" as there were two at that 
point. He replied, "Wait and follow us. We are 
waiting to finish burning the bridges and then we are 
going there." We sat down on the road side in the 
dark with all these Yankees (a regiment or two) in 
front of us. 

In half an hour the order, "Forward, march," was 
given and as the last soldiers filed past us, we started 



40 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

with them. We had only gone a short distance, about 
150 yards, wlien the cavali-y turned to the left and 
went down into what seemed to us a dark hollow, al- 
though there was a road straight ahead. I told Mr. 
Hart that nothing would induce me to follow them 
there — that I would rather go a mile out of the way 
for the night. He said, "Well, I am sure we are on 
the right road anyhow, but I am going to tell you 
ladies that the nearest house is nearly five miles dis- 
tant and I know you are completely broken down, but 
when you reach that house it is the home of a good 
old Baptist preacher. Brother Painter, and you will 
have a good shelter for the night." So, encouraged 
by the prospect of a warm welcome, we decided to try 
and hold out to get there. 

Whilst we were discussing the situation, the caval- 
ry still stood in tliis dark black place and the soldiers 
would call out to us, "Come along, girls." "You 
are poor soldiers." "You are too slow." "For- 
ward, march, girls. " "Do you want to get up behind 
me," etc. Just as we had decided to go on, a single 
cavalryman rode up and took oflf his hat and said, 
"Don't listen to those men. You are on the right 
road. We have only turned aside to wait for a de- 
tachment of men who are at the river waiting for the 
burning of the last bridge. If you do not object, I 
will ride with you a little distance to see that you are 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 41 

not molested. ' ' Of course, Miss B. and myself were 
as mucli afraid of one soldier as we would have been 
of a whole oom])any, but we were afraid to be any- 
thing but very i)olito and ti'ied to hide our timidity. 
So we entertained him with our tedious travels of the 
day. 

Very soon we came upon a little creek that was 
spannned by a wooden bridge, the floor of which had 
been torn up, leaving only one wide plank to walk 
across. IMr. Hart said, "Now, ladies, what are we 
to do. The floor of the bridge is in such a condition 
that the wagon cannot cross and I will have to go 
higher up the stream, and what are you going to do, 
for I 'm sure the horse cannot pull us all ? " The Yan- 
kee soldier veiy gallantly and promptly replied, 
"Leave the ladies with me. I will take care of them 
and see them safely across the bx-idge." With that 
he dismounted, tied his horse to a beam of the bridge 
and strildng a match to reconnoiter the passway, as 
well, no doubt, as to catch a glimpse of his two com- 
panions, he proceeded to extend his hand to help one 
at a time across the plank. Not a word was spoken, 
for from the moment of Mr. Hart's announcement 
and the jiroffer of assistance from the soldier, our 
hearts were choking us and beating so wildly from 
fright that, listen as we would, we could not hear the 
wagon coming until it was upon us and I heard the 



42 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

soldier saying he must return to his command as he 
was absent without leave. I then recovered my senses 
suflSciently to thank him for his kindness and to in- 
vite him to call at my home if he came to Winchester. 
I then asked him his regiment, which he said was the 
1st Maryland Cavalry, and I replied that I was sure 
he was a Southern gentleman from the start. We 
parted and never heard of him any more. 

About one-half a mile or more further on, when we 
had just congratulated ourselves that the worst was 
over, we came upon the baggage train. The wagons 
were standing in the road with a guard waiting for 
the command of cavalry we had left at the river to 
join them. I suppose they had been there for some 
time, for one-half of the horses were lying down on 
the road in their harness, and the drivers were asleep, 
so the road was covered with a perfect network al- 
most impassable for any one. We would suddenly 
find ourselves stumbling over a mule's or horse's legs 
which would make him attempt to rise. We were in 
danger of being knocked down and trampled by them 
at any moment. Perhaps I did not pray by snatches ! 
I was longing to say, "Now I lay me down to sleep." 

That morning a wagon resembling ours had come 
over from Williamsport, Maryland, to sell tobacco to 
the army, and seeing ours, the teamsters and guards 
crowded around in the dark to buy tobacco, and for 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 43 

some time we could not make them understand that 
we were not the party and begged them to make way 
for us and let us pass. 

We finally found ourselves alone once more on the 
highway, and by way of cheering us up and encourag- 
ing us to hold out longer, Mr. Hart began to tell us 
of the nice quarters we were soon to reach and the 
cordial greeting and welcome we were to receive from 
the good old Baptist preacher. 

The moon was just rising, and it helped to make us 
feel brighter, for the extreme darkness had been most 
depressing. But when we caught a glimpse of a 
light and a house and were told it was Mr. Painter's, 
we felt like shouting. We stopped in front of the 
gate and sat down while Mr. Hart went to the house 
to renew his acquaintance and ask him to take us in 
for the night. To our utter amazement, we heard him 
say that it was impossible — that the Yankees were 
coming and he did not know that he would have a 
house over his head by morning, and we might be 
considered spies and it would compromise him. Mr. 
Hart pictured our exhausted condition and said it 
was impossible for us to go further, but the heartless 
old rascal (for even to this day I feel as if I would 
make it warm for him if I could get hold of him) still 
refused and had the audacity to recommend some 
one else's house to us. "I advise you to go three- 



44 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

quarters of a mile further to Mr. McKay's. He has 
a large house and can accommodate you. ' ' 

It was then nine o'clock, and but for the Yankees 
being on our heels, I would gladly have laid down 
there right on the road side, not even considering the 
propriety of the thing. But there was nothing to be 
done but to get up, shake out my hoops, and lift what 
I supposed were my feet and move on, but they had so 
long felt like blocks of lead that I could hardly recog- 
nize them as organs of locomotion. Never did three- 
quarters of a mile seem so long as this, and when we 
finally did come upon the large white house in a 
grove, all was as silent as death, for the family had 
all retired. After repeated hellos a gentleman put 
his head out of the window, and when told by Mr. 
Hart the condition of affairs, he said he would be 
down in a few minutes. When he came to the wagon, 
I introduced myself as Miss Emma Riely, of Win- 
chester. He asked me if I was a daughter of Colonel 
James P. Riely, who was once teller of the Valley 
Bank. When I replied that I was, he took me by the 
hand, and said, "Come in. It will give me great 
pleasure to entertain you, for your father was a good 
friend of mine." Taking us into the parlor, he said, 
' ' Lie down on the sofas and rest until I get my sisters 
to find you some supi^er, for we had all retired. Mr. 
Hart and myself will go and feed the horse. ' ' 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 45 

After awhile they returned and we were invited 
into the dining room, and a more surprised party you 
never saw, for there stood two of my schoolmates, 
Kathleen McKay and Bessie Wells, half-sisters, and 
this was their home. They were boarding at Mr. 
Powell's school where I was a day scholar. When 
the first Yankees came to Winchester the Powells ran 
off, leaving their dinner on the table. At the time 
Kate and myself left for Luray, these girls returned 
home. It is needless to say that we were glad to meet 
again and they gave us a bountiful supper, then took 
us into their mother's chamber to introduce their 
schoolmate and hear all about my unexpected appear- 
ance at that hour of the night. They sympathized 
deeply with us in our broken down state and sug- 
gested that we stop and rest with them several days 
before going further, and all entirely discouraged the 
idea of our attempting to get into Winchester, for 
there had been a young lady who had gone to the 
picket post the week before, pleading with him to 
permit her to enter the town, as she had a brother 
there dj^ing in the hospital, but they answered, "No, 
not unless you take the oath," and that would have 
been direct perjurj' in her case, for she was going in 
purposely to give aid and succor to the enemy, and 
the language of that oath was as strong as it could 
be made. 



46 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

"Well," I said, "both of the men in our party have 
taken the oath. Only Fannie and myself have not, 
and after going through all I did today and tonight, 
I will never be satisfied to return without making the 
attempt. If they refuse me, I will have to go back and 
have them laugh at me." They then showed us to 
our room and we began to seek our much needed rest, 
for it was then 11 o'clock. We began at once to re- 
lieve our feet first, and when I examined the inside of 
my shoes, I found the envelopes split all around, for 
Confederate stationeiy was none too good at best, 
and a long day's tramp had proved very wearing on 
it as well as on myself. I did not dare to disturb 
them for fear of getting them mixed, but oh ! my poor 
feet. I think there must have been a blister for every 
square inch, and knowing the extent of the surface, ^ 
you can well imagine the number. Poor Fannie 's 
were in the same sad state, for like my own, her 
shoes also were full of letters. 

We soon fell into a deep sleep, but not sufficiently 
deep to prevent being aroused soon thereafter by a 
passing army train and troops who filled the grounds 
and pounded upon the doors, calling for food at mid- 
night. The ladies had to hand out bread and meat to 
pacify them. 

Why we should ever have started on such a jaunt 
at all is as inexplicable as why we should have started 



ElVniA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 47 

on Saturday, necessitating part of our journey and 
especially our arrival in Winchester on Sunday. I 
can only accovmt for the whole matter by being con- 
vinced we were suffering from aberration of mind 
at the time. 

Sunday moraing dawned bright and beautiful and 
when we had carefully adjusted our mail in our shoes 
and succeeded in getting a wagon load of dust out of 
the Berege flounces and crepe bows on my bonnet 
and com]ileted our extensive toilet, we descended to 
the parlor, feeling much rested from the fatigue of 
the night before. We found two gentlemen there 
from Front Royal who had forded the river to advise 
us not to attempt to go to Winchester. Mrs. Inman 
had told them of our destination and persuaded them 
to come and try to influence us. But I listened with 
my ears in one direction and my heart in another, and 
I think I have heard some one say, but it possibly 
could not have been Mr. Macon, that when a woman 
once inakes up her mind (especially a Riely) you 
might as well talk to the dead. But is it any wonder 
that on this lovely Sabbath morning, only fifteen 
miles from my home which I had not seen for five 
months, a lovely pike all the way, and having endured 
all I had to get this far, that I should have been hard 
headed and obstinate and persevered? I felt that if 
I had to retrace my steps, I had left nothing undone. 



48 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

The old nag was brought out and certainly he was 
feeling his oats, for his whole aspect seemed more 
cheerful, and when I bade adieu to our hospitable 
friends, it was with the promise we would spend 
several days with them. 

We reached the picket post between one and two 
o'clock, and the demand to halt was given. I asked to 
see an officer. He said that the sergeant of the guard 
would be along presently. When he came he said I 
would have to see the captain of the guard who was 
in a tent some little distance off. He finally came 
back, bringing this officer, and I began to tell him a 
very pathetic tale. That I wished to return to my 
home where my natural protectors were, giving him 
no intimation of why I had left it. I gave him a his- 
tory of the party, the men having taken the oath of 
allegiance and Miss B. wishing to go to Clarke county, 
to visit relatives, and that I was only a child. He 
listened attentively and then said, "Oh, yes, you can 
enter without any difficulty by taking this oath," pro- 
ducing a printed form from his pocket. "Oh," I 
said, "I cannot take that" with more emphasis than 
I should have done, and he said, "Those are our gen- 
eral 's orders. ' ' 

I began then to plead with him to allow me to see 
the general in person, which he refused. My eyes 
began to fill and my voice to choke, for the old famil- 



EJIirA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 49 

iar spires of churches were in full view and I could 
imagine I saw my loved ones seated in our dear old 
pew. Wliether he saw my emotion and distress and 
it touched his heart, I do not know, for he then said, 
"I will retura in a few moments." He went to his 
tent evidently to consult with some other officer, for 
when he returned, he said, "I am going to allow you 
to go to General "VVliite's headquarters under this 
guard," designating a mounted cavalryman. He 
then said to us, "Have you any letters or contraband 
infonnation of any kind about you." Now fearing 
if I said "Yes," and gave up the letters out of my 
shoes whicli were evidence enough that I was trying 
to smuggle them, he would think, "She gave these up 
as a blind and is withholding something more val- 
uable, possibly, and I'll put her right out and not let 
her go to headquarters." So, more quickly than it 
taJies me to write it, all this passed in my mind, and 
I answered, "Oh ! no, we haven't anything." After 
he had given the order to the guard to take us to 
General White's headquarters with a note, we pro- 
ceeded. 

Now, the general's headquarters wei-e out at the 
fort, one mile the other side of Winchester. When 
we reached the outskirts of the town, I asked Mr. 
Hart to drive us along Market street instead of Main ; 
my home was on Kent street, the street back of Mar- 



50 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

ket. As we reached the block that leads to Kent, who 
should I recognize standing and talking but my aunt, 
two brothers, Evelyn, Miss Conrad, and Sallie. They 
had met returning from the Episcopal and Presby- 
terian churches. I did not want them to recognize 
me. Altogether, I was trembling with excitement at 
seeing them again. I drew my veil and I heard them 
remark that we were evidently strangers under guard 
and wondered who we were. I had not gone more 
than a square before my heart began to fail me and I 
thought if General White refused to let me stay, I 
would be put outside the pickets and they would never 
know I had been there, and I would not see them 
again. So I asked Mr. Hart to go back and tell them 
I was one of the party and to ask one of my brothers 
to come and go to headquarters with me. All came 
rmming in astonishment and wanted to know what on 
earth induced me to take such a trip, etc. My brother, 
Brent, went with me, walking all the way in the hot 
sun beside the wagon. 

The fortifications were on a high hill one mile from 
town, and the general's headquarters were there. I 
thought that the old nag would never get us up this 
steep hill and the August sun was parching us. On 
our arrival, we were told the general was not in, but 
Colonel Sweeney, the provost marshal, was, so we 
drove to his tent. He came out and my brother told 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 51 

him that Winchester was my home and I wished to be 
allowed to return. He asked many questions and 
then said the orders were, no one should be admitted 
without taking the oath. That I told him I could not 
do, and when my brother had exhausted eveiy argu- 
ment in my behalf, he hopelessly remarked, "Well, 
Colonel, it does seem hard to see a child of fourteen 
years of age driven from her home and natural pro- 
tectors and turned out loose upon the charity of the 
world." He said "child?" in rather a sarcastic 
mannner, for I looked every day of thirty in my re- 
markable costume. "Yes, sir, she is nothing but a 
child. " " She does not look it. How old did you say, 
fourteen years ? Well, if you are able to prove that, 
it alters the case. The orders are, all persons from 
eighteen years up shall take the oath. ' ' My brother 
said that he would furnish abundant proof of the 
statement and made himself personally responsible 
for its truthfulness. 

He then asked Fannie how old she was. She re- 
plied, "twenty-one." He said, "There is no escape 
for i/ou," whereupon poor Fannie broke down and 
just boo-hooed in the most heart-broken style. I felt 
so sorry for her that I began to beg her to do what I 
had all along vowed I would not do, but I did not see 
how she was to do otherwise, for we had not prepared 
or dreamed of such a condition of affairs. Mr. Hart 



52 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

was not going to return to Luray for a week. I was 
not going out, and she, poor girl, if she refused to 
take the oath, was to be set down in the public road 
just outside the picket post alone. She said between 
her sobs, "Oh, Emma, I will be disgraced amongst 
my friends." I said, "Oh, they will never know it." 
"Yes, you and Mr. Hart will tell on me and then they 
will all say I'm disloyal." Both Mr. Hart and my- 
self pledged ourselves to strict secrecy, and after a 
great persuasion she swallowed it, although each 
word seemed the size of a cannon ball to swallow and 
you could hear a gulping sound as each one went 
down. 

Colonel Sweeney then asked us if we had letters or 
contraband information about us, and having told 
one storj^ I had to tell another, and said, "No." He 
then said to Brent Riely, "Go to Mr. Stackhouse's 
boarding house and ask for Colonel Delemesi's wife. 
Say to her, I will deem it a personal favor if she will 
go to the York Hospital, room No. 3, and search these 
two ladies. The men having taken the oath will not 
be searched. The guard will search baggage in room 
No. 2." Calling up an additional guard, he said, 
' ' Guard these ladies to the York Hospital. ' ' A guard 
rode on either side of the wagon. Mr. Hart knew we 
had these letters and began to tremble for us, and as 
we started, said in an undertone, ' ' Try and slip them 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 53 

in my pockets," and he then began to tiy to interest 
the guards by pointing to the cannons in the fort and 
asking what points each commanded, and my brother 
and himself complimented the works, and whilst this 
was going on, Fannie and myself put our heads to- 
gether and laid our plans. 

Presently, I said aloud, ' ' Fannie, it will be a long 
time before we reach the town. Let's take off our 
shoes and rest our feet. They hurt so after walking 
so far last night." She said, "Oh, that's a good 
idea," so we slipped our hands in under our dresses 
and took off our shoes, for we were sitting down flat 
on the straw. Then running our hands down in the 
shoes, we proceeded to gather up the letters, only one 
of us doing this at a time. Wlien I said aside to her, 
"ready," she said, loud enough for any one to hear, 
"Emma, raise up, and let me pull the straw under 
you," and whilst she was doing tliis, I was up on my 
knees, hanging most affectionately over Mr. Hart's 
back and with my left hand ramming the letters down 
in his capacious linen duster pocket next to the sick 
soldier, so as to be unobserved. Mr. Hart was now 
admiring tlieir horses and pointing out their fine 
points, an ever fruitful and absorbing subject with a 
cavalryman. When Fannie was ready with her let- 
ters, I said, ' ' Fannie, raise up and let me make you 
more comfortable," and she deposited her letters. 



54 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

Then we wondered if by accident any particles of 
paper could have gotten in the loose straw and be the 
means of giving us away when we got out. 

On reaching the town, my brother hurried to the 
boarding house for fear Madame Delemesi would be 
out and then went hurriedly to tell my aunt to come 
to the hospital, which she did, bringing Mrs. Hugh 
Lee with her, but they were not allowed to come where 
we were but witnessed the searching of our carpet 
bags with growing indignation, for as they held up 
our garments for inspection so long, they felt assured 
they must be trying to secure the patterns. We were 
terribly uneasy about our shoes for fear a scrap of 
paper left with the least writing would betray us, and 
we hoped to get a chance to investigate before the 
woman arrived, but finding ourselves under guard, 
we did not have the opportunity. 

When we got out of the wagon, I looked at Mr. 
Hart to see if the mail was all secure and there was 
the writing as plain as day showing through his well 
worn duster pocket. I drew up to his side and said, 
"Put your handkerchief in your left pocket," and 
soon his ample bandanna had hidden every trace of 
them. 

The door opened in one-half hour and a perfect 
vision of loveliness appeared. A delicate, refined 
Italian beauty, introducing herself, and apologizing 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 55 

profusely, saying that it was such an unpleasant task 
for her to perform, and having done it only ten days 
before as an accommodation she was in hopes she 
would not be called upon to do it again, but when she 
received the message, she disliked to refuse, etc. I 
thought to myself, now she is such a lady, she is only 
going to make a pretense of searching, and we will 
get off easily, but, alas ! I was mistaken. Had she 
served an apprenticeship at it, she could not have 
been more thorough. The coal scuttle bonnet, with 
its ponderous bows and quillings, was first taken to 
the window and thoroughly picked over, looking for 
information wrappetl in tin foil and sewed up in 
articles of apparel as was often done during the war. 
Then I was made to open my mouth and lift my 
tongue, for sometimes the foil was carried under the 
tongue. My watch was next opened to the works and 
examined. My hair was taken down and fingers run 
through it, then the undressing began. The hems of 
the garments were all held to the light and felt all 
around. Corset stays were thoroughly examined, the 
shoes taken off, hands run down inside, but thank 
heavens, they came up empty, stockings turned, which 
ended my examination. 

While I was dressing, Fannie went through the 
same ordeal, only furnishing more work for the 
woman, for Fannie had on a white skirt tucked near- 



56 EEMIXISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

ly to the waist with inch tucks, and she had to take 
each one separately and hold them to the light. All 
this time my temper was rising. Since she had not 
f oimd anything to incriminate me and considering it 
was such an "unpleasant" task to her, I thought that 
she was doing far more than necessary and had made 
it very embarrassing for us. So when she began, 
after finishing, with her deceitful apologies, I shut 
her up quickly by saying, "No more apologies are 
needed, and I hope I will some day have the oppor- 
tunity of returning the compliment. ' ' We parted and 
I went home rejoicing, but the oath sat very heavily 
upon poor Fannie 's heart and stomach for days. 
Even her appetite fled, for she felt sorely stricken in 
conscience. Mr. Hart came the next day to have a 
laugh over our exj^eriences of the past two days. 

I had only been home ten days when we were sud- 
denly aroused from our sleep by a terrible explosion 
about two o'clock in the morning. Nearly all the 
window glass in the houses was shattered and peoj^le 
sprang from their beds and ran into the streets, think- 
ing it was an earthquake, but seeing the sky lighted 
up over at the Fort, it was soon discovered that they 
had blown up the powder magazine and were evacuat- 
ing. Lee was coming and they retreated to Harper's 
Ferry where many of them who were under the com- 
mand of General Miles were captured. In their haste, 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 57 

they left all the women behind who were sent through 
the lines under a flag of trace. Ten days afterwards 
I met Mr. Stackhouse, and he said, "I tell you, you 
have kept some one at my house in hot water." I 
asked him "who," and he said, "Colonel Delemesi's 
wife. She has been afraid to poke her nose outside 
the door for fear you would find out she was left and 
have her punished for the way she searched you." I 
said, "Don't ease her mind, please, for I want to 
punish her in that way alone. ' ' 

My sister, Mrs. Gordon, came home, bringing Kate 
with her, who taunted me with being in such a hurry 
to return, having so much to encounter, while she had 
only a little longer to wait and suffered no inconve- 
nience in coming. 

After all our servants ran off, we had to hire and 
reduce our number to one. The cook and the old 
housekeeper being feeble, we had all to assist in the 
housework. Evelyn, my sister (now Mrs. Wolcott), 
was then only eight or nine years old and was much 
petted and indulged by us all, but particularly so by 
my aunt, and she deemed it quite a hardship to be 
made to wash dishes while the housekeeper dried 
them. Even at that tender age, she had learned how 
to manage my aunt so as to carry her point. She 
would invariably refer to the loss of her mother (my 
aunt's sister) and say, ' ' She knew if her mother were 



58 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

living, she would not be made to do this." That al- 
ways melted auntie's heart and Evelyn could do just 
as she wanted. She was refused something one even- 
ing, and became offended. The next morning early 
my brother-in-law heard a noise overhead in the tliird 
story and went to investigate. He found Evelyn 
in her little dressing gown and bare feet busy pack- 
ing a trunk. When questioned, she said that she was 
going away to leave us. That we did not treat her 
right. "My mother did not leave me here to wash 
dishes," she said, displaying her little hands. "Just 
look here, I have scalded all the skin off of my hands 
washing dishes," and putting her hands on her back, 
said, "I've most broken my back sweeping and I am 
going away to leave you aW." Auntie, on hearing of 
it, was ready to lay the earth at her feet, and we were 
much amused, for Evel>Ti's resolution did not last 
fifteen minutes, but she was solid with auntie after 
that. 

I was appointed chambermaid without rank or 
emoluments, and thought I had the toughest job of 
them all, with the big "teaster" bedstead to tackle, 
which had been made to order to accommodate my 
mother, father and all thirteen children to sleep in. I 
was expected to do alone what had always required 
two stout negro women to do every day, and when 
beds had to be turned, the butler had to come to their 
assistance. 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 59 

I would have made a first class prize fighter before 
I was released from duty. I would stand off and view 
the object to be attacked and decide best where to 
make the best licks. Then I would double up my fists 
and begin to pummel it in the sides, bearing all my 
weight on my opponent. I felt convinced many times 
from the pain in my side I must have had a lick in 
return. After I had knocked all the breath out of it 
and succeeded only in raising a few knots, I would 
take off my shoes, mount on top and proceed to cut a 
"pigeon wing" over the entire surface to get it level. 

One morning in the middle of this remarkable per- 
formance, the door opened and Colonel Davis walked 
in (he was occupying the room). I could only drop 
on my knees and beg him to retire imtil I could de- 
scend, which he did, roaring with laughter. 

Pig Story 

In the early fall of 1863 I went down to make a 
visit to my cousin, Fannie Daniels, near Charlestown, 
Jefferson county, her mother owning a fine estate 
near there. I was to bring her home with me and we 
were to go to Mt. Air\% the ^leems's beautiful home 
in the Valley. When I was ready to leave, Mrs. Dan- 
iels said she wished she had something to send to my 
aimt, but she said, ' ' We are all so poor I have nothing 
worth sending — how would she like a pig?" I said, 
" Oh ! she will be delighted to get anything that can be 



60 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

eaten." So she had one caught, its hind legs tied so 
that if it got out it could not run. It was put into the 
wagon in a bag, alongside of the driver. 

We had twenty-five miles to go to reachWinchester. 
It proved a verj' troublesome traveling companion. 
Eveiy time its serenity was disturbed it squealed for 
dear life. When we went up a hill the pig in the bag 
rolled under our skirts and the fight would begin — 
we kicking and the pig squealing. We met a troop 
of Yankee cavalry returning from Winchester to 
Martiusburg. Winchester was without a regular 
garrison then, and only subject to raids from either 
side. The officers stopped us to make inquiries about 
us, and when questioned about the bag were much 
amused to find it contained a pig. 

We did not reach home until after dai'k. My aunt, 
not expecting such an addition to her household as a 
pig, was in a quandaiy what to do with it, and it was 
Saturday night besides. She finally decided to put it 
into an office we had in the yard until Monday morn- 
ing, when she would have a pen erected for it. So 
the string was cut from its hind legs and it was turned 
loose, but the long confinement had stiffened its joints 
so it hopped around rabbit fashion. 

The Presbyterian church was next door — only our 
lawn between — our pew was just in a line with our 
back yard, and frequently our solemnity was greatly 



ElIMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 61 

disturbed by witnessing absurd things going on at 
home. Stained glass windows were not as common 
those days as now, and we had an uninterrupted view. 
It was rather warm that day and the windows were 
raised so we could not only see, but hear. 

We had gone to church that morning, leaving my 
aunt behind and, unfortunately for us, the pig had 
not had its breakfast before we left. In the midst of 
the service the "girl" appeared in full view with a 
heaping plate of i)rovisions for the jiig. My aunt's 
voice could be heard, pitched upon a high key, as she 
followed on behind, urging Mattie not to let the pig 
get out, and to be very careful how she opened the 
door. Our closest attention was immediately given to 
see the performance. Mattie made several ineffec- 
tual attempts to get the dinner plate through the key 
hole. She gradually had to increase the aperture 
and when about to insert the dinner plate, out came 
the pig. Then began a chase all around the yard, and 
our audible giggling attracted the attention of the 
congregation. Auntie stood with agonized expres- 
sion, calling, "Eun, Mattie, run! Mattie, catch him 
quick. Don't let it get away, for mercy's sake." 
Notwithstanding it hopped rather than ran, it made 
good time and soon reached the garden, Mattie in hot 
pursuit, plate in hand, hoping it might turn and the 
sight of food induce it to stop. When she seemed just 



62 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL "WAR 

about to secure her prize, she unfortunately booked 
her foot in the corn stubble and down she came with 
great force, sending the food in one direction and the 
plate in another. At this last disaster we laughed 
outright. 

The congregation looked daggers at us and we 
might have been able to establish our equilibrium 
and composure if we had not at that moment heard 
Auntie, in tones of despair, saying, "Mattie, where 
on earth is the pig?" Mattie, lying fiat on her stom- 
ach and turning her head first one side and then the 
other, replied, "That's exactly what I want to know, 
too." We had to get up and leave church, and when 
we reached home and told auntie how she had caused 
us to disgrace ourselves and what an exhibition she 
had made of herself, she was much astonished, but 
too much grieved over her loss to give it much 
thought. 

We spent the week explaining our conduct to the 
congregation. Having then no newspapers or public 
place for advertising lost property, auntie concluded 
to constitute herself an advertising medium, so sat 
two whole days on our front porch, stopping every 
one as they passed. Now, many of these people had 
been passing our house almost daily for years and 
had never had a nod of recognition from her, hence 
they were rather startled at her sudden politeness at 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 63 

this time. She would clear her throat and begin, 
"Good morning." They would look amazed. "Have 
you seen anything of a pig?" "What sort of a pig, 
Madam ? ' ' This was a stunner, for the only glimpse 
she had ever had of it was when she saw it hopping 
over the garden, but she had to describe it some way 
to identify it, so when they repeated the question, 
"What kind of a pig, Madam?" she began, "A black 
pig, I think, with a long face ; a veiy countryfied look- 
ing pig, with a long tail and all screwed up behind." 
"No, Madam, I have not." "Well, if you hear tell 
of him, please say it belongs to me." 

Now this remarkable description went on for two 
days and the people would move on convulsed with 
laughter. 

Mrs. Conrad sent over one afternoon to know if 
she would take a walk with her. She remarked that 
she was not fond of ivalkitig, but she had better go, 
for she might see or hear of her pig. Mrs. Conrad 
was a very pious person and talked a great deal on 
the subject of religion. As they walked, she was con- 
versing on the necessary preparation for death and 
the hereafter, and became so absorbed that she did 
not miss my aunt from her side, and when she did 
she discovered her across the street, head hung over 
some one's back fence. She had heard a pig grunt 
and had gone hurriedly to see if it was her pig ' ' with 



64 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

a long face, very countrified looking, long tail and all 
screwed up behind." 

We started on our trip up the Shenandoah Valley 
to the Meems's, stopping at Woodstock at the hotel 
where my brother was boarding, as Imboden's cav- 
alry was stationed there. The hotel was crowded, so 
my brother gave us his room with only a single bed 
in it, but we were on pleasure bent, no matter at what 
cost of inconvenience, so we slept, or rather went to 
bed, all three of us, but never slept a wink, but 
laughed two entire nights at what a farcical attempt 
we were making at trying to rest — compelling the 
middle one to change every half hour that the outside 
might thaw out a little. 

On arriving at the Meems's, all was mirth and 
pleasure, and we were only too glad to join in it. 
Kate Eiely had been there for a month. Sallie Lion- 
berger was also there. In fact the guests seemed to 
pour from every part of the large establishment. Ten 
ladies and about eighteen gentlemen were included 
and, besides, Early's Corps was encamped only two 
miles from the house. Mr. Macon, who was on a fur- 
lough, boarded at the Mt. Jackson hotel. Horseback 
riding during the day and dancing at night occupied 
all our time. Eight or ten delightful riding horses, 
with side saddles, were brought out every morning 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 65 

and tied to the rack, to be used whenever we needed 
them, and there was no lack of escorts. 

I came near losing my life one morning when out 
riding. General Walker and Miss Daniels were in 
the lead, riding slowly, and a second couple between 
them and myself. They saw in time that the tele- 
graph wire had been cut and tied to the rail fence on 
the opposite side of the road and called to warn us 
as they rode around the post. I was not then in 
sight and came dashing up at full speed, too late to 
check my horse. Dr. Southall, my escort, threw up 
his hand to raise the wire and prevent its striking 
me, but did not succeed. I was dragged off my sad- 
dle and the wire struck me right at my throat, and 
but for having pinned a handkerchief around my 
neck to protect it from the sun, my throat would have 
been badly cut. As it was, the handkerchief was cut 
in two, and in trying to raise the wire it cut a gash 
over my eye. Dr. S. succeeded in stopping the horse 
at once and I remounted and galloped on, only a little 
nervous over my narrow escape. It was the result of 
a quarrel between the infantry and cavalry and they 
had, after passing through, cut the wire and tied it 
to throw the cavalrj- as they passed at night. 

The girls of this generation will never know the 
good times we had then, even if sad and terrible at 
times, as war must be necessarily. 



66 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

Next came our ride back to Woodstock — a merry 
crowd in a big old stagecoach, six horses, a beautiful 
moonlight night; Kate and Fannie Daniels going to 
the Murjjhy's, Nannie O'Bannon and myself to the 
Welch's. We reached there just as Gilmore and Im- 
boden's men were returning from their raid on the 
Baltimore & Ohio railroad trains. They had never 
taken time to unwrap the bundles that they had 
taken from the seats of the car, and many of them 
came to Mr. Welch's parlor to open them and display 
their trophies, which was a very risky thing to do as 
was afterwards proved, as many remarkable and un- 
expected articles rolled out that they had no earthly 
use for and caused peals of laughter or a shower of 
blushes by turns. They all had rolls of greenbacks 
and a number of gold watches — amongst them Sen- 
ator Bright 's, of Indiana. 

The day we returned to Winchester was the cold- 
est I ever experienced — so bitter cold we thought we 
would freeze before we reached our destination. 
When we got out at Mr. Da\as's, at Newtown, to 
warm, we found Langley, one of our noted spies, 
there on his way north. He asked me to take Sen- 
ator Bright 's watch and hide it about my person, 
also a large roll of money, for fear we would meet 
some Yankees before we reached Winchester. They 
were returning the watch to the senator, as he was a 
democrat. 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 67 

That fall General Milroy's Yankee army came to 
Winchester and wintered there. His reign was one 
of terror and will be remembered, together with Gen- 
eral Sheridan's, as long as memory lasts, with all of 
the citizens who lived during these reigns. He began 
by taking possession of their houses, ordering the 
people out with only a few hours' notice, compelling 
them to leave behind their valued possessions of 
years of accumulation, setting them with his own 
army ambulances just outside his jiicket posts in the 
public road and taking their luxurious homes with all 
they possessed for different brigade headquarters or 
hospitals, when there were plenty of unoccupied 
houses that would have answered their purposes just 
as well. 

The Logans owned one of the largest and hand- 
somest furnished houses in the town. Mrs. L. had 
been an invalid for years with consumption, never 
leaving her home, and at this time her daughter was 
in bed with erysipelas. It was a damp, drizzly, rainy 
morning in the early spring when General Milroy 
sent them an order to pack and be ready by noon to 
be sent beyond the lines, as he wished their house for 
his own headquarters. 

The Logans sent a messenger around to tell us, but 
when I reached the house they had guns crossed in 
the front door to prevent any one passing in, and sen- 
tinels to guard the entrance. The family were al- 



68 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

lowed to talk to you across the guns, and each mem- 
ber came to tell me good-bye, weeping and in the 
greatest distress at lea^^ng their beautiful home and 
all they valued behind, to say nothing of the terrible 
risk to Mrs. Logan and her daughter on such a day, 
when both were in such critical health, but no appeal 
could move the general, who, in the midst of all their 
distress and confusion, was moving in and making 
himself comfortable in their handsome double par- 
lor, using the back one for his private parlor and the 
front for his staff. These rooms the family had 
deemed too handsome for their daily use and had a 
sitting room across the hall. 

General Milroy was a man of violent temper and 
the least thing ruffled it; he was a rough, backwoods 
western man, with a great shock of grey hair which 
stood up like porcupine bristles, yet we heard he had 
a soft side to his nature and we determined to try 
and find it and save our home, if possible. So we 
would invent all sorts of excuses to go to his office 
and have an interview with him and manage to get 
in a little pleasant conversation and studiously avoid- 
ed saying anything that would ruffle his temper, and 
we soon found we could wrap him around our fingers 
by going at it in the right way. 

Major Ben Butterworth, for many years in con- 
gress, was his adjutant general and he often said. 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 69 

"You are the only Rebels who know how to manage 
him; he curses the rest and drives them from his 
presence but he never denies you all anything. ' ' One 
remarkable instance of it was this, for I'm sure such 
a thing did not occur during the war to any others 
than ourselves. On returning from church one Sun- 
day, I found a note from Mr. Eust, a private in the 
6th Virginia Cavalry, saying his brother and himself 
had been captured whilst spending the day with their 
mother and were up at the jail ; he would be glad if I 
would try and get to see him. As soon as dinner was 
over, auntie and myself went to the provost marshal 
to get a permit to go to the jail. He declined to give 
it without the general's permission. I told him I 
knew the general would issue the order but it was so 
much farther to have to go to him. He still declined. 
A Federal soldier stood there in Confederate uni- 
form, a man I knew by sight, and a terror to the 
citizens for he was the chief of what was known to 
them as "Jessy's Scouts," spies dressed in our uni- 
forms who went at intervals into our camps. They 
were also detectives and were constantly getting the 
citizens into trouble by going, at all hours of the 
night, mysteriously tapping at their doors and repre- 
senting themselves as our own men, drawing out un- 
suspecting people only to land them in prison or have 
them sent outside the town. So after the provost 



70 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

marshal declined a second time, he stepped forward 
and said, "Write the order to admit them and I will 
go along with them. ' ' 

Now I would rather never have seen my prisoner 
friends and gladly have given up going, rather than 
have my friends see me walking on the street with 
Purdy, but I dared not say a word. When we got 
out on the street it was too narrow for all three to 
walk together so I fell back and he at once stepped 
back with me. I stood it for a little while but pres- 
ently pretended my shoe had come untied and re- 
marked, "You allwalk on until I tie my shoe." As 
he walked, he said to my aunt, ' ' That girl 's shoe isn't 
untied; she don't want to be seen walking on the 
street with me" (he had no doubt noticed my 
nervous glances), "but come along, old lady, we don't 
mind it, do we?" So I was very careful never to 
catch up with them until we reached the jail. There 
we had a half hour's pleasant conversation with the 
Messrs. Eust in Purdy 's presence and we bade them 
good-bye. 

After getting home we concluded (by way of form) 
we would go to Milroy's headquarters and ask him to 
let these young men come to tea with us, a most au- 
dacious liberty to talie even in asking such an absurd 
thing. We found the general out riding and were 
quite disappointed for we wanted to see how he would 
look when we made such a remarkable request of him. 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 71 

So we returned home and put our heads together and 
wrote him a most absurd letter in poetry, very ridicu- 
lous in style, etc., tlie substance which was that we 
were four forlorn maidens, hungry for the sight of a 
beau, especially a Reb, even if they did bring on this 
"devilish rebellion." This latter expression he al- 
ways used whenever referring to the war, and we 
would always laugh at him and tell him he ought not 
to use such tigli/ irordt; about such a good cause. 

We waited an hour wondering what sort of a reply 
he would make to such audacity or if he would reply 
at all; when a soldier was seen coming with an en- 
velope. We had very curiouslj'^ mixed sensations of 
fear and interest in the reply. It was addressed 
' ' To the Rebels. ' ' On opening, it contained a written 
penuission for tlie two prisoners, Messrs. Rust, to be 
allowed to be absent from jail under guard until nine 
o'clock. When the order reached the prisoners they 
were dumbfounded at the privilege granted and were 
profuse in their thanks to us. We spent a delightful 
evening. Whilst we were at supper the guard sat at 
a side table and ate his and enjoyed home fare quite 
as much as the prisoners did. When we went up- 
stairs we sat in the parlor and the guard in the hall. 
Of course that furnished us with another excuse to 
go to his office next day to thank him and tell him 
many funny things that had ]iassed. 

My sister Kate had been extremely ill with tj^jhoid 



72 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

fever the winter before, when Jackson encamped in 
Winchester, and for many weeks her life was 
despaired of. She was prayed for in all the churches 
and twice we were called in to say farewell. Dr. 
Hugh McGuire, our old family physician, and his now 
famous son Hunter were unremitting in their atten- 
tions. Hunter was medical director then on Stone- 
wall Jackson's staff and continued so until Jackson's 
death. Three and four times a day they came to 
watch her and Hunter came every night between one 
and two o'clock. Jackson was going to Romney and 
Hunter asked permission to remain behind to watch 
her case, but Jackson refused. He was not absent 
long, however, and through their skill and the mercy 
of God she was spared, to be, as she has since proved, 
a blessing and comfort to her family and friends. 

To me she has been more than a sister and to my 
children a second mother and I want her good deeds 
always to be fresh in their memory. To her children 
and grandchildren who may in years to come be inter- 
ested in reading these pages, I wish to say that a 
more beautiful example of nobleness, generosity, and 
unselfishness of character never descended to any 
children than to hers, for, like our mother, her heart 
and hands were always extended in love and sym- 
pathy. Besides, I want them to know she was one 
of the great beauties and belles of her day and had 
innumerable offers of marriage. 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 73 

But to return to Milroy — Kate's illness had left 
a blemish on the pupil of one eye. She was threat- 
ened with l)lindness in tliat eye and auntie spent many 
morning's i)lea(linK- with Milroy to allow her to go to 
Baltimore to be treated by an oculist, but he was 
immovable. One day she heard Mrs. Milroy had 
arrived to make the general a visit. The next morn- 
ing every one felt assured that the report was true, 
for a strange looking, Godforsaken little urohin made 
his ai)i)oaranc'e in front of iicachiuartors, dressed in a 
homespun suit of decidedly homenuule cut. He was 
about seven years of age. Little Clairbourne Green 
(now Judge Green), living across the street, seeing 
this queer looking boy of his own age, sallied forth 
to make his acquaintance and api)roaching him, said, 
"Wliat's your name?" "Ebenezer Milroy." "I 
am Clairbourne Green; what you doing here?" "My 
father's general and all these here soldiers belongs 
to my father." Clairbourne said, "I don't care if 
they do; I'll bet if you come out here in the street I 
can lick you." Ebenezer declined and beat a hasty 
retreat to the house. 

Auntie waited a few days before urging her matters 
again before the general, hoping she would catch a 
glimpse of his wife. When she did go she was for- 
tunate in finding her in his office. She was a western 
woman, from the backwoods evidently. Her hair 
was done up iu the most antiquated style, parted and 



1^ 

74 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

plastered down on her face, making a sudden and 
violent curve to bring it back behind the ear, and 
ended in a little hard knot the size of a hickory nut. 
Her figure was in keeping, modelled after a block of 
wood, the same size all the way up, the darts of 
her dress finding no obstruction in reaching her 
shoulders. She had thin, comj^ressed lips, a sharp 
aspect generally and a still shaiT^er voice. 

Notwithstanding her appearance was so against 
her, auntie decided she would make a master stroke 
and try and move the general through her. She 
began by telling the general she had come again to 
see him about her niece's going to Baltimore and 
hoped he had reconsidered the matter. She then 
turned to Mrs. Milroy, hoping to secure her aid and 
sympathy, and said, "Mrs. Milroy, suppose you had 
a young, beautiful daughter [hard to imagine 
though] just budding into womanhood and in danger 
of becoming blind and you were to appeal to one of 
our generals for permission to send her where it 
could be averted and they were to refuse, wouldn't 
you think it mighty hard?" After a while she re- 
plied, in her nasal tone, "Yes, it's mighty hard, but 
when the Union's at stake you have to be mighty 
particular.^' Later, he consented to let her go and 
she abused her privilege by allowing the Baltimore 
people to persuade her to bring back letters and soft 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 75 

felt hats tied under her hoops and money secreted 
about her person. When auntie went to Baltimore, 
she brought back quinine and morphine sewed up in 
the lining of her muff for hospital use. 

Kate had been home a week and thought every- 
thing quiet and safe for her to get out these letters 
and try and get them through the lines. We never 
knew whether the information was given them by a 
servant or whether purely accidental, but the letters 
had not been on the bed ten minutes before the Yan- 
kees were in the room and had them in their hands. 
They had come to search for them but found upon 
entering the room so suddenly and unexpectedly they 
were lying waiting for them, as it were. They 
searched the house, however, hoping to find other 
things but did not succeed. We took the letters to 
the provost marshal. Captain Alexander. He turned 
them over to the general. We sent, asking Captain 
A. to come to the house for it was raining hard. Kate 
explained to him how she came to bring the letters 
and asked him what he thought Milroy would do. He 
felt sure she would either be sent to prison or put 
outside the lines and advised her to hurry around 
and see him before he issued his order. She and 
Bettie Myers hurried off in the rain and they found 
him in a very bad humor with some one but at sight 
of them he calmed down and after confessing her 



76 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

fault and telling him a plausible tale of the influences 
brought to bear upon her, he gathered up all the let- 
ters which he had read and threw them into the fire, 
saying as he did so, "I will never trust you again. 
Go home and behave yourself hereafter or you won 't 
fare so well." If it had been any other family he 
would have hustled them out so quick it would have 
made their heads swim. 

He had burned so many houses and done so many 
high handed outrageous things that no one was aston- 
ished at anj'thing he did. Finding, one Sunday after- 
noon, that two families had been ordered out and 
their homes taken for hospitals, aimtie hurried 
around to see him and said, "General, I hope you are 
not going to take the home of these oiphans." He 
replied, "Madam, make yourself easy. I'll take 
every house in this damned town before I'll take 
yours." He afterwards told General Torbert we 
were the only decent damned ' ' Secesh ' ' in the town. 

The citizens could not get a particle of flour, meal, 
or cow feed from the mills without a special written 
permit from the general. We had a mill of our own 
on our farm, two miles from town, but it might as well 
have been forty miles for all the good it did us. 
People were losing their cows from starvation, for 
unless you caught him in a good humor, the cows, 
and the people too, had to go hungry. One morning 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 77 

auntie said, "Emma, go down and ask Milroy to give 
me a permit to send to the mill. Tell him the old cow 
has eaten rosebushes until the thorns are sticking out 
of her sides." I went down to deliver the message 
verbatim. Wlien I asked Major Butterworth if I 
could see the general, he said, ' ' Yes. There is a lady 
in there now. ' ' I opened the door and upon a glance 
took in the situation and modestly dropped into a 
chair close by. The butcher's daughter, Miss Arnold, 
who weighed about 250 pounds, was standing in the 
floor with a large red plaid blanket shawl drawn tight- 
ly around her. The general was pacing the floor in one 
of his ugly, angry moods, making his remarks more 
emphatic by an occasional oath and stamp of the foot; 
pausing suddenly before her, in a menacing tone, 
said, "You all brought on this devilish rebellion and 
ought to be crushed and deserve to starve with the 
cows." Miss Arnold, drawing her shawl tighter as 
her temper rose and tossing her head in the air, with 
a contemptuous sneer, said, "Well, General Milroy, 
if you expect to crush this 'devilish rebellion' by 
starving John Arnold's old cow, you can do it and be 
drot," and with that she flounced out the door, slam- 
ming it behind her. 

The general turned to me like a lamb and said, 
"Can I serve you?" I had too much tact to broach 
the same subject just then, and thinking the old cow 



78 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

might survive one more day on rosebushes, I replied, 
' ' Not this morning. I only dropped in to see Major 
Butterworth a moment and thought I would come in 
and ask after your health." After a few words I 
left him and went in to tell Major B. the conversation 
I had heard with Miss Arnold and that I was intim- 
idated for the time being but would call again in the 
morning. 

Mrs. Dr. Baldwin went one morning to ask him to 
send and have the soldiers taken out of her parlor; 
that she had wakened that morning to find a company 
quartered in her yard and they had taken possession 
of her grounds and were cooking in her parlor, frying 
meat and such things. The general was in a temper 
and storming and raving generally, which ruffled her 
temper decidedly, though outwardly she was calm. 
He was seated with his feet resting on the mantle and 
was swearing about the Eebels. Suddenly looking 
at her fiercely he said, "Who brought on this devilish 
rebellion anyhow?" She tripped up to his side and 
said slowly, "John Brown." He sprang to his feet 
and stamping the floor said, "Get out of here at 
once," pointing to the door. "You need not order me 
out for I had no idea or desire to remain longer in 
your presence." It is needless to say the soldiers 
were not removed. 

We also knew Captain DeMott, quartermaster on 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 79 

Milxoy-^s-staff. He went to Baltimore the week be- 
fore Milroy's army was captured at Winchester with 
all its baggage and stores. These made our men 
rich for months. On his return he came to our house 
bringing some articles he had purchased for us. He 
said, "Ladies, look out for me at church Sunday, but 
you won't know me for I'm going to look killing fine. 
I am so tired of soldiers' clothes I purchased an entire 
outfit of citizens' clothes, a Prince Albert coat, Mar- 
seilles vest, and a pair of light trousers, a new color 
called crushed raspberry.^' 

The fighting began on Saturday, about twelve 
o'clock. The first intimation I had of it was when I 
was on the street and saw the wounded being brought 
in. "We had heard an occasional volley of musketry 
but did not suppose it amounted to much. That night 
the Yankees packed up everytliing and retired to the 
fort behind the fortification, leaving the town as si- 
lent as death, save an occasional regiment passing 
back and forth to relieve the pickets. Of course, we 
had no services the next day and Captain DeMott was 
otherwise engaged. 

The citizens, knowing we were on the eve of a 
battle, remained beliind closed doors in breathless 
anxiety and anticipation. The cannonading was go- 
ing on at intervals all day and Milroy had discovered 
that instead of its being only a cavalry skirmish, as 



80 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

he supposed at first, it was Ewell's corps. Sunday 
afternoon, just before dark, the cannonading became 
more continuous and I went up on Cemetery Hill back 
of our house to see if I could get a good view of the 
fort as the cannonading was in that direction. My 
companion and myself secured a splendid position. 
As the shells burst over the fortifications, we could 
see the men inside by the light of the explosion and 
could also see their great guns belch forth, sending 
shells into our camps. 

As we stood there, nearly in the dark, a regiment 
of Yankees came suddenly upon us, double quicking 
it back to the fort, and the soldiers cried out, ' ' Run 
home, girls; get ready, the Rebs are coming," and 
we, thinking they were right on their heels, did hurry 
home, but they did not come that night. There was 
little sleeping done by the people that night, not 
knowing what the morrow was to bring forth. 

The military court-martial, of which Colonel War- 
ren Keifer was the judge advocate, held its session in 
Mrs. Sherrard's dining room. Colonel K. was after- 
wards speaker of the House of Representatives. Al- 
though they had taken their rooms without their con- 
sent, he was kind and considerate of them. Lizzie 
Sherrard was taken ill with typhoid fever and he 
frequently brought her delicacies she could not oth- 
erwise obtain. He had recently been in charge of a 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 81 

flag of truce and had met the officers of the Maryland 
Line, and they had spent hours pleasantly together. 

On Saturday night, at midnight, after the town had 
been evacuated, I was sitting up with my sick friend. 
The town was as still as death. We could hear horses' 
hoofs on the cobble stones a long way off, but when 
they stopped in front of the house our hearts went 
pit-a-pat, not knowing whether friend or foe. We 
soon heard the knock and putting our heads out to 
ask who it was, was told it was Colonel Keifer and 
a friend who wished to speak to us at that unearthly 
hour as they might not have another chance. We 
dressed and went down and they told us the Eebs 
would be here in the morning. He brought two bot- 
tles of fine brandy, one for the sick sister, the other 
to be given with his compliments to Major Goldsbor- 
ough and Captain Emack, of the Maryland Line. He 
said he would feel very anxious to hear about Miss 
Lizzie and hoped she would soon recover, and bade 
us good-bye. The Eebs had a grand jollification 
when the brandy was delivered. 

A month or sis weeks later, I had taken tea at the 
Sherrard's and the young ladies and myself were 
sitting out in front of the house with Dr. Wm. S. 
Grymes and Dr. Morrison, and after awhile we no- 
ticed a Confederate soldier standing leaning against 
the house, evidently listening to the conversation, 



82 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

and we remarked upon it. When he saw he was ob- 
served, he came forward and asked for something to 
eat. Ann, being the housekeeper, took him in and 
gave him his supper. When he liad finished and she 
had put things away, she came out and said, "Wliere 
is that man?" "He has gone." "I do believe he 
is a spy. He asked so many curious questions. He 
said, 'I believe we have some mutual friends and I 
heard you had an ill sister some time ago. Has she 
recovered? I have also heard of a Miss Riely ; is she 
well and in town?' 'Yes, she is out with my sisters 
now and the sister who was so ill has nearly recov- 
ered, I'm glad to say. Who is our mutual friend?' 
He had forgotten exactly who he had heard speak of 
them in camp. He asked many other questions 
which aroused my suspicions." ""Wliy didn't you 
come at once and tell us for it 's too late now, he has 
disappeared. ' ' 

In a few months the Union forces returned to Win- 
chester again and General Keifer (as he now was) 
came with them and called at the Sherrard's. He 
asked them if they remembered giving sup})er to a 
supposed Reb one night and his asking about the sick 
sister, and Miss Riely? He was a spy to whom he 
had described the house and told him to go there and 
find out all about them. He produced a sheet out of 
a diary written by the spy — four young ladies at 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 83 

the house, three Miss Sherrards, Miss Riely, two 
soldiers, one called Dr. Giymes and the other Mor- 
rison. Sister well, etc. 

These friends were very clever and witty and the 
most rabid Southerners and would fis?ht for the cause 
as rigorously now as they did when the battles were 
raging at their fiercest. For this reason General 
Sheridan put them out and took possession of their 
home. 

Several years ago an army officer was sent to Win- 
chester to make a map of the battlefields around 
there. The Sherrards being in reduced circmn- 
stances, took boarders and he boarded with them. 
They often had heated arguments over the past, or 
pleasant bantering. On one occasion he said, "Miss 
Lizzie, I have a conundrum to ask you. AVliy was 
the Southern Confederacy like a silk handkerchief?" 
"T don't know, unless it was the finest thing going." 
His answer was, "Becau.se one was a bandaTina and 
the other a dambanner." She said she would like to 
ask him one : ' ' Why was the Southern Confederacy 
like Lazarus?" He gave it up. "Because it was 
licked by dogs. ' ' He shut up after thatj 

To return to Sunday night, when Milroy was ex- 
pected to give battle the next morning behind his 
fortifications. Mr. Macon's regiment, the 13th Vir- 
ginia Infantry, of which he was adjutant, was de- 



84 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

tailed as skirmishers to lead the attack upon the fort 
at daybreak and great was their relief when the time 
came to find all but a few troops had stolen out in the 
night and they had taken down the flag in token of 
surrender. About three thousand of Milroy's men 
were captured between Winchester and Martinsburg 
with all the baggage and sutler's stores. Milroy 
escaped. 

Whenever the Union army wintered in W^inchester 
the sutlers (army merchants) opened stores and kept 
everytliing for sale. For days after the retreat you 
could see Confederate soldiers going in every direc- 
tion with ladies' dresses, ladies' and children's shoes, 
and even hoopskirts tied on to their trappings. 

The 13th Virginia regiment was left in Winchester 
on provost duty to guard these immense stores they 
had captured whilst Lee went into Maryland and 
Pennsylvania. One evening a number of these offi- 
cers were at our house and we had some refresh- 
ments. I was standing by Mr. Macon, whom I had 
only met a few days before, when he flourished out a 
new handkerchief and I recognized DeMott's name. 
I said, "How did you get that handkerchief!" He 
said, "I captured his trunk and we divided out the 
contents among us. That new broadcloth coat Col- 
onel Terrell has on was in it. This Marseilles vest 
I have on and those peculiar colored trousers Cap- 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 85 

tain Cullen has on were all in the same trunk." And 
here before me were all the clothes Captain DeMott 
expected to look so "killing fine in," all worn by Rebs 
who were enjoying their good luck immensely. I 
told them the story of Captain DeMott 's purchase. 

The girls had a lovely time that summer with sev- 
eral regiments left behind in charge of the town. Dr. 
Wm. S. Grymes had charge of the hospitals and was 
in love with one of my friends. "We had large 
grounds to our home and in the summer time we took 
our tea in the grounds where we had tables and seats 
for that purpose. On two occasions during the war 
our tea was interrupted suddenly by the whizzing 
of bullets over our heads, cutting the leaves from off 
the trees as they passed. We lost no time in making 
our exit, but were always particular to carry our 
plates with us before running, for food was not so 
plentiful that we could afford to lose one meal. 

Flour was four hundred dollars a barrel then but 
in '64 and '65 it was as high as six hundred. People 
used to have a basket to carry their money to market 
in but it bought so little they could carry the pro- 
visions home in their ])ocketbooks. Prices were per- 
fectly ridiculous in those days for Confederate money 
had so little real value. Mr. Macon bought a militaiy 
coat for which he paid six hundred and fifty dollars. 
A friend paid one hundred and fifty dollars for an 



86 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

alpaca skirt of very inferior quality and yet there 
were many things you could not get at any price. 

Several times during the war the supply of salt 
gave out and people dug up the floors of their meat 
houses where they had salted down for years their 
pork, boiled the scrapings and strained them. Corn- 
cobs were burned to make soda. Confederate can- 
dles were unique things — a piece of candlewick vary- 
ing from ten to twenty feet, dipped in a preparation 
of tallow and wax melted together and allowed to 
harden and then coiled around a stick eighteen inches 
high which was nailed to a block of wood and one end 
fastened about an inch above the stick and lighted. 
Some made these wooden structures very ornamental, 
in shape such as harjis and bows and arrows. 

General Lee, on his return from Gettysburg, rested 
only a little while in Winchester and then left us 
alone and we had a very quiet fall with the exception 
of Ramseur's engag-ement with Averill's cavalry in 
which the former was defeated. Quite a number of 
the Winchester ladies spent the night on the battle- 
field ministering to the wounded. Miss Russell sat 
and held the head of a dying soldier on the field all 
night, and a beautiful poem was written upon the 
incident and a painting was made by an artist. 

When Milroy was in Winchester, Lizzie Sherrard 
was quite ill, and when I was sitting up with her one 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 87 

night, she suddenly became much worse and it became 
necessary to have the doctor at once. There was no 
one to go for him but one of the sisters and myself. 
The Yankee sentinels stood every two squares apart 
throughout the town. We soon found she would die 
if we did not get assistance, so we braced up and 
started. We no sooner shut the front door than 
the sentinel's voice rang out, and in the stillness it 
sounded like thunder, "Halt! Who comes there?" 
"Friends," replied two very tremulous voices. "Ad- 
vance and give the countersign." We advanced and 
told him our mission and he said we would have to 
wait for the relief guard. We asked to be allowed to 
go to the next sentinel who was in sight, for it was 
fortunately bright moonlight. This he agreed to. 
When in calling distance of the next, he cried, "Halt! 
halt! Who comes there?" "Friends." "Advance 
and give the countersign. ' ' We again told our story 
but he refused to let us proceed, but kept us waiting 
fully fifteen minutes for the relief guard, and when 
they came, six in number, they escorted us with 
bayonets glistening in the moonlight to Dr. Baldwin's 
and after getting the doctor, escorted us back to the 
house. So I can say now I have had military escort 
twice in my life; first, on my arrival in Winchester 
from Luray, and second, on this occasion. So it was 
worth something to have lived during the war. 



88 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

( Apropos of military escorts, I must tell a funny- 
circumstance in connection with military escorts and 
my friend Jennie Sherrard. During the war a Con- 
federate officer was buried in our town cemetery. Sev- 
eral years after the war his friends wished to have 
his remains removed to the Confederate cemetery in 
Richmond where many of our distinguished dead are 
buried. The relative wrote asking Miss Sherrard to 
engage the undertaker who had buried him to remove 
the remains and she to i>ay the bill and notify them 
when ready by telegraphing to the Veteran Camp in 
Richmond, which wished to reinter him with appro- 
priate honors and ceremony. She went to see the 
undertaker who professed to remember all about this 
burial ; that he was dressed in a green coat, etc. 

Having been a disting-uished officer, it was deemed 
right and proper that a delegation of the Winchester 
Veteran Camp should accompany the remains to 
Richmond. They finally did this, and were met at 
the station in Richmond with a most imposing mili- 
tary pageant and bands playing the march for the 
dead. On arriving at Holh-wood it was decided to 
open the casket and take a last look at the famous 
commander. On doing so, they were horrified to be- 
hold an old, shriveled faced maiden lady with a black 
cape around her shoulders. They telegraphed to 
"Winchester, "You have made a mistake and sent us 
a ivoman." Imagine my friend's feelings when shej 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 89 

received the telegram. Now, she couldn't imagine 
who on earth it could be and in her agony of mind 
she tore around town like some one wild, getting 
the people all wrought up for fear it was some of 
their dead. It proved to be Miss Sarah Spotts. The 
people all die laughing even now, over the grand send- 
off she gave poor old Miss Sarah and the amount of 
travel, for in her lifetime she had never been beyond 
the corporate limits. She had to be brought back and 
a second trip made. 

After Milroy was driven out and our troops were 
established, the Shen-ards had a waggish sort of 
fellow as their guest, Major Moses of South Carolina. 
He was so comical looking that anything he said 
sounded ridiculous ; to look at him was but to laugh. 
One evening at the tea table at which were seated 
fifteen or twenty, and it was hard to get them waited 
on, he saw the tea and coffee which was passed up 
one side and down the other finally stopped, and 
none had come to him. Addressing the servant in 
most injured tones, he said, 

"You have passed around the coffee, 
And you have passed around the tea; 
So, Amelia, if they are all helped, 
For God sake, pass a cup to me." 

On another occasion Mrs. Sherrard remarked that 
she had forgotten to tell Mr. Sherrard to send up a 
barrel of flour and she did not have any for supper. 



90 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

He quickly replied, glancing at one of the girls who 
used whitening on her face to excess, "Don't worry 
about that. Miss Virginia has enough on her face now 
to make a plate of biscuits." 

That fall Kate Eiely received her appointment in 
the Confederate Treasury Department. Mr. Jamison, 
of South Carolina, who married a relative, had charge 
of the Ladies' Bureau. Before going she made a 
handsome addition to her wardrobe in the way of a 
pui^jle calico dress, for which she paid eleven dollars 
per yard. A calico dress in those days, prettily made 
and neat fitting, was considered nice enough for even- 
ing as well as morning wear. She came home the 
next siunmer on a month's leave of absence, bringing 
Miss Dickens with her. 

General Early's Corps was in Winchester then. 
Major Harry Gilmore, from Baltimore, was at our 
house wounded, and was being nursed. His was an 
independent command like Mosby's, composed of 
Marylanders. He had been in love with Kate for 
some time and when he heard she was to arrive that 
day asked me to fix him up nicely, if I could, for he 
wanted to make a good impression. He was badly 
wounded through the lung and arm, but promised, in 
return, to speak a good word for me to General 
Lomex, who often came to see him. I fulfilled my 
part of the contract but he failed in his for Lomex 



E]\r:\rA Cassandra riely macon 91 

also fell in love with Kate, which did not set well with 
either of us. He wished he had never heard of 
Lomex, and so did I. But for all that, I wasn't a 
wall flower by any means, and had as many beaux as 
I could well handle at one time. 

A very sad incident occurred about this time. One 
Saturday night our parlor was full of soldiers, about 
five to every girl, and among them was the Mr. Rust 
whom Milroy had allowed, when a prisoner, to take 
tea with us. He had been exchanged and returned 
to his command. He had been in love with me for 
some years but was painfully diffident and whenever 
on the eve of declaring his devotion, which had oc- 
curred several times, I always did or said something 
to embarrass him and throw him off the track. This 
evening he had tried hard to get an opportunity to 
speak to me but there was always one or two ahead 
of him. When the clock struck twelve, the hour for 
all to leave, he came to me and said, "I came espe- 
cially to see you this evening on a matter of great 
moment to me but it is now midnight and I must leave 
without having a word with you. Can I escort you 
to church tomorrow morning?" I said, "Yes." 
""Well, the army is resting quietly but we may be 
ordered off in the morning. If I am not here when 
the bell rings, don't wait for you will know I have 
been detained. I have learned from one of the young 



92 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

ladies that you have just turned Colonel Goodwin 
adrift and I greatly fear my time is coming next." 
With that, we parted. 

In the morning I waited until the bells stopped 
ringing and started off for church alone; when I 
reached Market street I saw an ambulance coming 
and several soldiers riding behind it, and recognized 
Mr. Singleton Eust. He came towards me at once 
and said, "Miss Emma, I was just coming to see you 
to bring the sad news. My cousin, with whom you 
had the engagement, is a corjise in this ambulance, 
killed twenty minutes ago. His regiment had a skirm- 
ish this morning and he was the only man on our side 
killed. ' ' I was so shocked I could scarcely wend my 
way back home. This was only one of many sad and 
distressing scenes that were constantly coming under 
our observation. 

Mr. David Conrad, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, 
had only two sons, so bright and promising. They 
marched into battle side by side and the same shell 
killed both. Mrs. Burrows, of Orange county, had 
five sons in the army, three of whom were killed the 
same day near Richmond. 

In September, whilst Kate and Miss Dickens were 
enjoying their leave of absence. General Sheridan 
began his attack upon Early at Winchester. It was 
a day never to be forgotten by me. The fight began 



EJIMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 93 

early in the morning and I was told some of the lines 
of battle could be plainly seen from the top of the 
cemetery fence, whither many citizens were hurry- 
ing. The cemetery was only a short distance from 
our home. I joined a party and climbed to the top 
of the fence and seated myself on a post, where, with 
the aid of Major Grilmore's fine field glass, I could 
see the lines and sat watching until about ten o'clock, 
when the bullets began to whiz uncomfortably near 
and I thought I could see our men falling back. 

On getting home I went in to tell Major Gilmore 
what I had seen and he told me he had sent a courier 
to ask General Early if it was necessary for him to 
move as he did not want to be captured. Just then 
the courier apjaeared, saying that General Early 
said to remain where he was, there was no danger. 
I stood talking, probably ten minutes longer, when I 
heard a great noise in the street. I said, "Listen, 
Major. What is all this. Let me go and see." 
Hurrying to the front of the house, I saw the retreat 
had begun and I ran back and told him the streets 
were blocked with artillery wagons and men, and the 
wounded were falling all along the pavement. He 
said, "Miss Emma, please hand me my trousers 
hanging there," and I hurried to the porch. How 
he dressed with his arm in a sling I do not know, but 
he was soon on the porch barefooted and in his shirt 



94 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

sleeves, bareheaded, also begging for a horse. For- 
tunately, he was recognized by one of his own men, 
who, seeing his feeble condition, helped him mount 
his horse and ran by his side holding him on whilst 
Gilmore held the reins in his teeth for he had to use 
his good arm to support his wounded one. 

Just as he left a poor, wounded fellow fell a few 
feet from the steps, bleeding profusely from the aiTQ. 
One of the girls ran and got a towel and tied it tight- 
ly above the wound to stop the flow of blood, and he 
moved on. An ambulance just then stopped at the 
door with a young soldier we knew, wounded through 
the arm and lungs. He had gone into the fight un- 
necessarily as he was home on a furlough and his 
command not in that part of Virginia. His gallantry 
was so conspicuous that General Gordon called him 
to him in the midst of battle, took his name and com- 
mand and told him he should be promoted after the 
battle. He was wounded a few moments later. 
When he drove up to our house he begged us to take 
him in quickly and nurse him for if sent to the hos- 
pital with so many wounded he would die. He was 
only nineteen years of age. We told hun we could 
not take him ; that there would not be a man on the 
place, and although we were seven females, we could 
do little for him without the assistance of a male 
nurse. He said he was growing weaker every mo- 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 95 

ment from the loss of blood and begged most piteous- 
ly to be taken in. We were all so excited and dis- 
tressed we were half crazy, for our cousin Kate 
Sydnor was ill in the house at the time. We told 
the driver to take him out, we would do the best we 
could for him. He was taken out hurriedly and car- 
ried in, the blood spouting out of his wounds in a 
stream as thick as my finger. He begged us to try 
and stop a surgeon as quickly as possible as he could 
not hold out long. Miss Dickens took him in charge 
and began to work on him to staunch the flow of blood 
whilst the rest of us watched for a surgeon. 

Presently one came riding along in the crowd, and 
a perfect chorus of voices said, "Oh! are you a doc- 
tor?" He reluctantly answered, "Yes." "Oh! 
won't you come in and try and stop a soldier from 
bleeding to death." "Yes, if you will watch my 
horse." We all promised to do that. He dismount- 
ed and went into the hall when suddenly his courage 
seemed to forsake him and he said, "Indeed, ladies, 
you will have to excuse me. I am afraid I will lose 
my horse and be captured." He was none too soon, 
for a soldier was in the act of mounting his horse 
although we protested and told them the owner had 
just gone inside for a moment. We did not know 
who the surgeon was and were indignant at him for 
leaving us so unceremoniously and abused him round- 



96 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

ly for deserting us in our helpless condition. "We 
know him now, and it was Dr. Row, at present our 
family physician, and when I told him the circum- 
stances would appear in these pages he begged I 
would not mention his name as he had always felt 
ashamed of his conduct. 

Now, you may care to know what became of this 
young man. We hurried a messenger to the general 
hospital in charge of an intimate friend. Dr. Love, 
asking him to send a surgeon to our house at once. 
He sent Dr. Dorsey, of Maryland, who made him 
comfortable, and Miss Dickens constituted herself 
his nurse and a faithful one she proved. He was 
paroled the next day and finally made his escape two 
months later. About every two weeks a party of 
soldiers with a surgeon would go around to all the 
private houses to examine the wounded to see when 
they would be ready to send off to prison. For a 
month before his escape he was well enough to sit up 
and play cards with us and we would have a great 
deal of fun. If the doorbell rang and any one looked 
out and caught sight of a blue coat, such a hustling 
into bed and groaning was never heard, and they 
would decide as he was not sitting up yet to wait a 
little longer. One day he announced his intention to 
escape. We told him he could not do so from our 
house as it would get us into trouble. So he left our 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 97 

house and went to the York hospital. He did not 
report to Dr. Love but went into a ward with a friend 
and after nightfall made his escape. When they 
next came to our house we told them he had gone to 
the hospital. When they asked Dr. Love for Mm 
he said no such person had reported to him. He fell 
in love with Miss Dickens and addressed her, but she 
would not entertain his proposal. 

To return to Early's retreat. The shells soon 
came whizzing over the house and bursting in every 
direction. All who were able to get there (servants 
included) sought refuge on the basement steps but 
poor Kate Sydnor and the wounded soldier were left 
to the tender mercy of God. We felt very anxious 
for fear she would die of fright, but consoled our- 
selves with the thought if she did she would have 
plenty of company for we were all on the verge of 
death from the same disease. Soon the enemy came 
dashing in from all quarters. 

On the morning of the battle Sheridan had become 
doubtful about pressing his fight, not knowing wheth- 
er Early had been reinforced. He sent a spy into 
Winchester to Miss Rebecca Wright, a former teacher 
of mine, a Quakeress, but a staunch Union woman, 
asking her to obtain the names of the divisions and 
probable strength of each for him. This she did, 
wrapped the information in writing in tinfoil, and 



98 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

the spy carried it back in his mouth. The battle was 
fought and resulted in a victory for him. He after- 
wards presented her with a handsome watch and 
charm studded with diamonds and obtained for her 
a lifelong position under the government. 

They were scarcely in the town before the Union 
men informed them that Colonel Harry Gilmore, the 
guerilla, was at our house badly wounded. They 
searched our house seven times by breakfast the next 
morning. As his clothes were there they would not 
be convinced he had gotten away. 

That week our lives were made a burden to us. 
A division of cavalry encamped between our house 
and the cemetery and we had three outside doors to 
the house, not including the kitchen doors. There 
were seven females and only one poor wounded boy 
in the house. We had no protection, and every night 
the soldiers tried to force an entrance. We had no 
near neighbors to call upon for assistance, for our 
grounds covered the entire square, with the exception 
of the Presbyterian church on the corner. For one 
week we never dared undress at night for we were 
in terror for fear they would effect an entrance, as 
they tried the doors every night. 

One evening just before lamps were lighted, Kate 
and myself were seated on our porch, Kate occupying 
the sill of the door, when a soldier stalked straight 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 99 

up on the iwrcli and attempted to step over her and 
get into the hall. She pushed him back with all her 
might, sprang inside, slamming the door, catching 
the night latch, whilst I ran to the corner to see if 
I could get assistance, calling to a neighbor who had 
some soldiers boarding with her. Auntie and Bettie 
Myers were on their way home when some neighbors 
called and told them to hurrj^, some soldiers were 
tr>"ing to get in our house. Two cavalry officers were 
walking just in front of them and she apjjealed to 
them for protection, and they came with her and 
when told how we had suffered said they would send 
us a guard at once. 

Later, the guard was pacing his beat when ihe 
heard a group of soldiers planning an attack upon 
the house. He pounded upon the door vigorously 
and upon being let in said he wanted to get out the 
back way and run to camp for more men. In letting 
the guard in, Dr. Love was also let in. He had just 
come to look after the wounded boy. It was decided 
he and myself should go to cavalry headquarters and 
get an officer to come and sleep in the house. It 
was then nearly nine o'clock. The colonel said he 
would send another guard that night, but if further 
molested, would send an officer each night to sleep 
in the house. We brought an old man back with us 
to find that the first one had never returned since 



100 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

Kate let him out the back door. He had evidently 
heard more than he relished. We were preparing 
to lie down without undressing, as usual, when there 
was a furious pounding on the door. It was the old 
man, who said if we would let him stay in the hall, he 
would guard us, but would not stay outside for he 
could hear men talking all around the house. What 
were we to do? If we brought him inside, we were 
all as much afraid of him as if he were a dog, and if 
we left him outside, he would go off and leave us. 
We decided it best to bring him in, and Evelyn was 
sent to make friends with him. She gave him some 
cake and he gave her some hard tack. He had a little 
girl at home. All sleep was banished from our eyes 
that night, with an armed sentinel at our doors 
locked in. 

For several days Captain Fitzgerald stayed in the 
house ; then a Major Stave was sent. He was aroused 
one night by the soldiers trying to force the door. 
He sprang up, demanded their business, and fired off 
his pistol, and they never molested us any more, for 
they knew then that there was a man in the house. 

We felt we could not ask them to come continuous- 
ly. Besides, they were liable to be ordered off any 
moment and a new set to take their places. So my 
uncle, Mr. Brent, and Mr. Philip Williams advised 
us by all means to take some officers to board with 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 101 

us, so as to insure protection. An officer had asked 
my aunt about ten days before (when she went down 
to take some food to the prisoners) if she could tell 
him where he could get board with a private family. 
There was no hotel, all having been taken for hos- 
pitals. There were at that time ten thousand wound- 
ed of both sides in the town. She had told him she 
did not know of any one taking boarders, but when 
advised to take some herself for protection, she went 
to the commandant and asked him if he could tell her 
the name of the officer in charge of the prisoners. 
He told her it was Captain, afterwards Colonel Archi- 
bald A. Hopkins, son of the Eeverend Mark Hopkins, 
of Williams College, and he was only too glad to 
come. He brought with him Colonel Mason Whiting 
Tyler, son of the Reverend Mr. Tyler, president of 
Amherst College, and Captain Robinson. 

They were all men of great culture and refinement 
as well as the best social standing at home. They 
wrote home that they were boarding with some of the 
most noted Rebels in the place and when their replies 
came, they read portions to us advising them to leave 
at once or they would be poisoned, for they would be 
miserable until they left, and had spent sleepless 
nights ever since they heard it. 

Colonel Tyler was our provost marshal and all citi- 
zens had to go to him for any privilege they wished 



102 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

granted or to be relieved from any annoyance or 
depredation, but rather than go to his office and en- 
counter such a military crowd, they would gather in 
numbers at our house at meal time, to make known 
their requests. 

Some daysi the crowd would be so great that one 
would imagine an auction of rare bric-a-brac was on. 
Not keeping any stationery, pen, or ink at the house 
for this purpose. Colonel Tyler would invariably call 
on aimtie for such articles, just as she was most en- 
gaged with preparations for meals, but she could not 
see the people in distress turned away for want of 
paper and ink upon which to enter the necessary per- 
mit, so she kept on furnishing, but it grew quite 
monotonous and one day, exasperating. 

She came into the dining room, with a very flur- 
ried air, and thinking that she was alone with me, 
began to let off steam by saying, "Emma, for mercy 
sake, go and get Captain Tyler some paper and ink. 
These nasty stinking Yankees nearly worry me to 
death. I wish they were all dead." A vigorous 
clearing of the throat by Colonel Hopkins, who was 
seated in the shadow if the heavy red curtains, 
startled her almost into a scream, and in a most em- 
barrassed way she said, "Oh, I mean these good-for- 
nothing citizens." He laughed heartily, for it was 
so perfectly apparent she was caught and scared to 
death. 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 103 

Kate and Fannie Dickens were in a deplorable 
condition. They had been paroled by Sheridan, as 
it soon became known they were Confederate govern- 
ment employees. They were afraid of losing their 
positions by being absent ; besides, they had come only 
for a month in smnmer time, leaving all their winter 
apparel in Colmnbia, South Carolina, and it was now 
November or December, I forget which, but very 
cold, and they were really suffering for warm cloth- 
ing. They sent around several times to beg Sheridan 
to let them go out in our lines, but he always said, 
"Not yet," biit jokingly remarked that he would have 
the quartermaster furnish them clothing. One day, 
by way of fun, they went to the quartermaster and 
asked for blank requisitions and filled them out. One 
wanted a becoming blue velvet bonnet and black silk 
dress, velvet cape, etc. The other wanted black vel- 
vet hat, silk dress, and fur cape. After filling them 
out, they sent them to General Sheridan, who thought 
it such a good joke he had it filed with the archives of 
war. It was at last announced that they would be 
sent out under a flag of truce the next day in charge 
of Colonel Tyler. 

Whenever there was a flag of truce sent out, all 
citizens could write letters, leaving them unsealed, to 
be read at headquarters before sending, so there was 
little satisfaction in writing, for no matter how much 
you were being tried or persecuted, you could not re- 



104 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

fer to it or your letter would not be sent. It was a 
relief to let your friends know that you had not been 
starved or burned out and were alive, if one cared to 
avail himself of the opportunity. 

Colonel Tyler had completely lost his heart with 
Kate, and Captain Hopkins with me, as I long after- 
wards learned from the latter. Neither, however, 
dared give any sign of it to us, and seeing us only at 
meal times, they prolonged the meal hour all they 
could for conversation. Wlien Kate was going to 
leave, Colonel Tyler thought he could not see her de- 
part without giving her some idea of the state of his 
mind and heart, and to beg that when the ' ' cruel war" 
was over, she would permit his attentions, so he wrote 
her a letter to that effect and sealing it, laid it with 
the mail at headquarters, thinking through courtesy 
to him as commandant of the town and in charge of 
the flag of trace, it would pass unopened with his 
official seal on it. He did not want Kate to know how 
he felt until he parted with her. But, alas ! for him ; 
his communication was read and withheld and turned 
over to the general. On his return he was relieved 
from command of the town and Captain Hopkins 
put in his place. When the charges were preferred, 
it was for writing to a rebel. He was most terribly 
mortified and chagrined, for it was known by all the 
officers. Kate was in blissful ignorance of it all until 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 105 

after the war closed. He is a lawyer in New York 
now, and, with his wife and sons, has made Kate sev- 
eral visits. 

Afterward Colonel Hopkins laughed and told me 
that he had learned a lesson from Tyler not to com- 
mit his thoughts to paper, but I quickly dispelled his 
hopes. He came one morning to say good-bye, as 
they had been ordered out against Mosby. Whilst his 
declaration was trembling on his lips, I replied most 
cheerfully, "Well, good-bye, I hope he will capture 
the last one of you." He thought that this did not 
sound as though he were likely to strike a responsive 
chord, so he left it unsaid. 

Late one afternoon, a party of General Sheridan's 
staff came and took possession of our second floor for 
headquarters, four officers, four orderlies, and four 
negroes. We did not have time to take up carpets or 
remove anything of value, but they walked in our best 
apartments and made themselves thoroughly at home. 
Two weeks later they applied to my aunt for board 
for the officers, as they were too far from mess head- 
quarters. My aunt consented, thinking it best to try 
to get some compensation for the wear and tear of our 
things. In this way I became acquainted with all of 
Sheridan's staff and many others distinguished in 
history. 

Amongst those on his staff was Colonel Lawrence 



106 EBMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

Kip (son of Bishop Kip, of California), better known 
now as president of the New York horse show, where 
he displays his fine horses each year. All of them 
were West Point graduates, many of whose class- 
mates I knew well on our side, and they always de- 
lighted in hearing about them. Colonel Kip was kind 
in giving us his rations, which were a great help to 
us. Each officer was entitled to draw as much as ten 
days ' rations at a time, and they were worth having, 
being equal in quantity and quality to almost a 
month's in our army. Our poor soldiers were glad 
to get enough com bread and meat, and frequently 
had one without the other, but sometimes received 
coffee and sugar, with flour, whilst the Yankees had 
sugar, coffee, tea, flour, molasses, meat, beans, dried 
fruits, and condensed vegetables for soups. 

Captain Moore, grandson of old Bishop Moore, of 
Virginia, was on General Dwight's staff, who had his 
headquarters at Miss Barton's, near Winchester. 
They all became very much interested in her fine or- 
phaned grandchildren, children of Col. Thomas Mar- 
shall, who had been killed in battle. These officers 
became quite fond of these children and at Christmas 
had a tree for them. They also took great interest in 
my sister, Evelyn, who was also an orphan, so when 
Christmas came they asked Mrs. Barton to send for 
EveljTi, which she did. The next morning, besides the 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 107 

small things, such as candies, cakes, and fruits, there 
was a suit of clothes each for the boys and a dress 
and pair of shoes each for the girls, and they were 
made very happy. 

Christmas morning a servant rang the bell, handed 
in a bundle, and disapi)eared. It was addressed to 
Miss Emma Riely, and contained a handsome dress 
skirt, pair of kid gloves, and shoes. I always sus- 
pected Colonel Kip, but did not wish to know posi- 
tively. 

I fared well, though, through Evelyn. They 
brought her five and ten pounds of candy frequently 
and always charged her particularly to divide with 
her sister. They were afraid to offer it to me out- 
right for fear I would decline to receive it. I de- 
veloped into a first class rogue whilst they were in 
the house, but I comforted myself with the feeling 
that "the end justified the means." 

These officers kept a chest in their room filled with 
nice things, besides a barrel of ale in the cellar. They 
had a keg of brandy, lemons, sugar, crackers, etc., in 
this chest. I had charge of a ward of wounded Con- 
federates at one of the hospitals, and those poor half- 
starved fellows needed stimulating, and I had it in 
my power to help them. These soldiers, our enemiess 
were destroying all we had for miles around, so I 
availed myself of my only means of retaliation. 



108 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

When they would go to headquarters I would put 
down the night latch to back and front doors and pro- 
ceed to forage for my ward. A pint of brandy, 
enough sugar and lemons to make it palatable, some 
crackers, cigars, or anything I saw lying around loose, 
together with several bottles of ale, satisfied me for 
each night, and the poor suffering Rebs looked anx- 
iously each day for my coming, and complimented me 
highly upon my success, as well as the quality. I felt 
like a culprit one morning when I heard them talk- 
ing and saying to each other that one of the men or 
all must be dishonest, for they had only had that keg 
of brandy filled a short time before, and it was empty 
already. 

Before the war our rooms were heated by La- 
trobe stoves and registers, but not being able to get 
proper fuel for them, we had to substitute wood 
stoves in their places. Our parlor had been closed all 
winter, but one night Dr. Love, Confederate surgeon 
in charge of our wounded, wrote me he wanted to call, 
and said, "Can't we sit in the parlor this evening?" 
So I fixed eveiything so as to make a fire quickly, if 
needed, after he came. I started the fire as soon as 
he came. We were sitting there talking in a subdued 
tone to prevent the officers overhead from knowing 
any one was below, for our surgeons were not al- 
lowed to be out after eight o'clock and he had flanked 



EMIVIA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 109 

the sentinels to get to our house. Suddenly I heard the 
windows fly up on both sides of the house, and soon 
they came tumbling down the steps. I sprang to the 
door and turned the key just as they turned the knob. 
Finding it locked, they rushed to the sitting room 
opposite, and I heard them say to my aunt, "The 
house is on fire. We were sitting there when we found 
the room filled with smoke and we hoisted the win- 
dows, but we find the smoke still pouring out of the 
register which has something tacked over it. Come 
quickly with us and let us investigate before too late. ' ' 
Pointing to the parlor door, they said, "Give us the 
key and let us look in there." She said, "It can't be 
in there, for there has been no fire there this winter. 
Let's go to the basement." Whilst they were look- 
ing, their windows were up and the doctor and myself 
often laugh now at how we worked to put that fire out 
for we knew it was the cause of all the excitement and 
we were warm enough after our work without fire. 
After going over the house and seeing nothing to in- 
dicate fire, they returned to their room to find all the 
smoke gone, and they soon quieted down. 

About that time Colonel Harry Gilmore, having re- 
covered from his wounds, had returned to his com- 
mand and had been captured whilst asleep in a house. 
He was brought to Winchester and put in irons. He 
sent me word to come and see him and bring his 



110 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

Masonic badge, which he had given me to take care 
of when at our house recovering from his wound. 
His clothes were also at our house, for, if you re- 
member, he escaped the day of the battle barefooted 
and in his shirt sleeves. I went to Colonel Parsons, 
the provost marshal, who told me he was in irons and 
no one could see him. I then went to General Sheri- 
dan's headquarters. I asked for Colonel Kip and 
told him my mission and asked him to say to the gen- 
eral I would like an interview with him. The general 
said he was busily engaged, and as Colonel Gilmore 
was not an ordinary prisoner I could not see him, but 
if I would send the badge to him, he would see that he 
received it, as he was also a Mason. The giiard that 
went with him to Fort Warren came to tell me that 
Colonel Gilmore sent many thanks for my prompt- 
ness and that the badge had been of great value to 
him. 

Now, I have tried to tell you impartially of their 
kindnesses in many ways to us as individuals, but my 
pen fails me when I attempt to recall and picture the 
many disagreeable, contemptible acts committed 
under General Sheridan's orders, under the name of 
war measures. I knew him personally from an 
observation of nearly seven months' duration, and 
although history records him as a great military man, 
in some respects he was a low vulgarian. But the 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 111 

proof of this assertion is not for these pages. It 
makes my cheeks fairly bum now when I remember 
going there one morning on business. I wore my hair 
curled and caught up in a bunch with a comb at the 
back of my head. Coming up to me in a most famil- 
iar way he took hold of one of my curls ; toying with 
it, he said, "If you give me this I will send you a 
bridal present when you marry." Having captured 
several of Mr. Macon's letters, he was well posted 
about matters. 

He devastated the whole country, far and wide, and 
in his report gloried over the fact, for he wrote, "I 
have destroyed a thousand bams filled with wheat, 
hay, and farming utensils. Have driven in front of 
the army four thousand cattle and have killed not less 
than three thousand sheep. So entire has been the 
destruction that a crow flying across the Valley must 
carry his rations." All that was left was destroyed 
by fire and the poor, suffering people were left in 
despair. 

Miss Lucy Page, from Clarke county, drove up one 
morning in her handsome carriage and five horses to 
see Sheridan about some depredations committed by 
his men. She not only did not gain her point, but her 
horses were taken from her and her carriage chopped 
up with axes and she had to remain until she could 
get some one to take her home. 



112 KEMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

My friends, the Slierrards and Lees, were sent into 
our lines and their houses taken possession of. The 
offence of the latter was this. One of our town girls 
living opposite Mrs. Lee married a Federal surgeon. 
Some one asked Mrs. Lee if the bride had left. She 
replied, "I suppose so. I saw an ox team standing 
in front of the door, which was plenty good enough to 
cany off any Southern girl who would marry a Yan- 
kee." One of the servants repeated it to Sheridan, 
and they were sent out in a hurry. 

Before sending Kate out they laid a trap for her 
into which she came very near falling. About nine 
o'clock one night our attention was arrested by a 
gentle tapping at the door and it was repeated sev- 
eral times before it could be definitely located. Upon 
finding it was the front door, it seemed more myste- 
rious, for everyone used the bell. Upon inquiring 
who was there a voice in a whisper said, "Friend." 
Thinking it was one of our men in as a spy, we opened 
the door and a burly negro man dressed in full blue 
uniform, heavy blue overcoat on, stepped inside and 
said in a confidential whisper, "Is this where Miss 
Kate Eiely lives?" "Yes." He quickly shut the 
door behind him and said he wanted to see her pri- 
vately. She was afraid to go, but we told her we 
would stand in listening distance. He told her (after 
asking if any one could hear) he had just run the 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 113 

blockade and had some mail for the citizens and 
wanted to know to whom it would be safe to deliver 
them and amongst them a very important letter for 
her and that he would call for the answer the next 
night as he was going back. The party had charged 
him not to return without her reply. The letter con- 
tained much of interest about friends, but asked her 
to get certain infonuation for them, as it was im- 
portant and this was a safe chance, etc. 

The question of answering was discussed amongst 
us and I think she did write an answer next day, but 
late in the evening we doubted the propriety of run- 
ning the risk for fear the negro might be captured, 
wliich would ]nit her in prison, when she was so eager 
and anxious to get back South. Although willing, nay 
anxious as she was to help our cause in any way by 
giving the information, her better judgment told her 
the risk to her was too great. Accordingly, at the ap- 
pointed time at night the negro called, tapping gently 
on the door as before, and when admitted, she told 
him to tell the party she was veiy soriy, but she could 
not write, as she was under parole, and besides, it was 
too great a risk everj^ way, explaining carefully 
everything to him so that he could repeat it. He was 
bitterly disappointed and urged with the greatest per- 
sistence that she should still write. He would wait 
until she did, or if she could not do it just then, he 



114 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

would wait until the next night, or if she would write 
right away, it would make no difference about the 
lateness of the hour for him, the later the better, and 
to feel no fear of capture, for he was in the habit of 
flanking the pickets and had never been caught, and 
he had promised so faithfully he would not return 
without it. To all of his importunities, she fortunate- 
ly said "No." She was afraid. He left, showing 
great dissatisfaction. 

About two weeks later, the door bell rang and a 
Lieutenant French wished to see Miss Kate Eiely. 
When she went in, he told her he came as a friend to 
tell her something, if she would promise never to di- 
vulge it, which she did. He asked if she remembered 
a negro man bringing her a letter a short time before 
which he urged her to answer. He said that that was 
a decoy letter, planned by General Sheridan to trap 
her. That man was never in the Confederacy. "I 
am an expert copyist," he said, "and was given the 
original letter to imitate the handwriting, and all 
those questions about information were added by me 
but dictated by the general. I was glad you were 
smart enough not to fall into the trap and I came to 
warn you against another." She thanked him pro- 
fusely for his kind interest in coming. Now this was 
only one of the many ways people were tempted by 
them, only to suffer thereby. I suffered temptations 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 115 

in another line after Kate was sent out under flag of 
truce. I have often thought I deserved great credit 
and showed some strength of character in resisting 
as I did. 

Gold lace and brass buttons are attractive wher- 
ever seen or by whom worn, but when worn by West 
Point graduates, with all their culture and polish of 
manner, even more so. Added to this were their splen- 
did turnouts, drags, sleighs with elegant buffalo robes 
for snow. Our street was the fashionable drive. I 
used to sit at the window and look with longing eyes 
at them, and they with equally longing eyes at me, as 
they dashed by time and again in the afternoons. 
Having these ofiBcers in the house, they rarely missed 
a meal without some invited guests, and in that way I 
knew a great many and they were all anxious to show 
me some attention if I would have permitted it. It 
was ofttimes hard to resist and required all the loy- 
alty I could bring to bear to do so. The fact of their 
being eager to cultivate me was from no especial at- 
traction of my own, but in times of war, when soldiers 
are separated from their homes and seldom come in 
contact with females, particularly those who were 
enemies, any ivoman they come in contact with would 
seem especially attractive. 

Captain Allen, grandson of Commodore Vander- 
bilt, watched his opportunity one morning when my 



116 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

aunt was out to implore me to marry him. He said 
that he was going to attend his grandfather's golden 
wedding the next month, and if I would marry him 
just before starting, he said he would resign and go 
abroad. I declined and begged him never to mention 
the subject to me again. Another wrote and asked 
me if he could see me close at four P. M. I wrote on 
the back of his own note, "Miss Riely does not re- 
ceive Yankees. ' ' 

Colonel Kip had the handsomest tandem team 
among them. One afternoon, he had them harnessed 
to his lovely sleigh, lined with velvet and elegant 
robes. He rang the bell and asked to see me for a 
moment. When I went out, he begged and implored 
me to get in and take a drive with him. When I de- 
clined, he said, "You may put on double veils and I 
will take you out the back way and it is so late we 
will not meet any one, and no one will ever know you 
have been out. I am particularly anxious that you 
shall go this one time, and if you desire, I will not 
ask you again. Put on your veil and come." I said, 
"Impossible, Colonel. My conscience would be be- 
hind that veil. ' ' So you can understand how I, a girl 
of only seventeen, was tempted, and what a severe 
test it was to my loyalty and devotion to my country 
to be able to resist my enemies when I might have 
enjoyed so many privileges dear to a young girl's 
heart. 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 117 

That winter Winchester had been in a dormant 
state socially. A kind of Rip Van Winkle sleep had 
fallen upon the people. All were apparently absorbed 
with their own cares and i^overty, especially the lat- 
ter, and had given up everything like sociability. Par- 
lors had long since fallen into disuse, for entertain- 
ing was a thing of the past. Even church societies, 
the great gossip centers, had been abandoned. One 
day a lady arrived from the Confederacy, bringing 
several cheap war times recipes. Chief among them 
was a cake recipe, requiring only one egg and one cup 
of sugar to make a cake as big as a half bushel, the 
principal ingredients being buttermilk and soda. 
Well, from the time that recijie struck the town, it 
was as thoroughly aroused as if by an electric shock. 
Parlor blinds were thrown open and eveiy household 
was bustling with activity. Ladies with their heads 
tied up could be seen rushing to and fro. Little nig- 
gers were seen running to the neighbors to borrow 
their best broom, for even they were fearfully scarce 
then and no one wanted to borrow a dust rag, for they 
possessed nothing else, their wardrobes being com- 
prised of little else. Invitations were soon flying and 
tearing around town in every direction. Friends al- 
most came to blows in their wild anxiety to have pre- 
cedence in entertaining, for fear even the poor half 
starved Confederate hens would get on the contra- 
band list and the egg crop be cut short. I had so 



118 KEMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

many invitations that my ingenuity was sorely taxed 
to get up costumes, especially a variety, as I had only 
one good dress and was envied by some friends who 
did not possess even that. I would appear one night 
with a choking collar and basque, the next with the 
basque tails put inside, and a belt. Third, I would- 
make a "V" neck by ripping off the collar; fourth, 
out would come the sleeves and then I would repeat 
each style in succession. 

On and on went the gayety until I began to fear 
I would not have as much as a dress to appear in, as, 
it began to give evidence of the heavy tax upon it. 
But fortunately for me, as well as others, when we 
had all about given out and the people generally were 
broken down with the hilarity and indigestion over 
the dry cake, the molasses pie, hearing of what a 
daisy time the cahe was having, determined to make 
its appearance and give the people a long needed 
rest, which it succeeded in doing most effectually, for 
from the time it struck the town it was laid out and 
Lent was decidedly in advance that year and doc- 
tors did a thriving business for awhile. 

The molasses pie recipe, whose chief recommenda- 
tion, like the cake, was cheapness, was as eagerly 
sought out as that for the cake. These pies were 
nothing but molasses or sorghum and lemons stewed 
together and baked in pastry. So easily made that 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY IMACON 119 

only three minutes were required to prepare them, so 
the recipe said. I suppose the lemons were intend- 
ed to insure a rapid fermentation of the molasses. 

My aunt immediately issued invitations for a din- 
ner party, as she had a friend staying with her who 
expected to leave next day. The three-minute pies, 
as we always afterward called them, were eaten and 
complimented by the guests, and my aunt was feeling 
quite happy over being the possessor of such an eco- 
nomical recipe, but, alas ! in three minutes time, the 
family was laid out with cholera, and the doctor had 
hard work to save us. 

The stage coach drove up next morning for our 
guest who was to have been a passenger, and she sent 
the driver word that he came mighty near having a 
corpse to carry instead and to tell her friends that 
she hoped to see them later, if she lived, but to mob 
any woman who started molasses pies in their neigh- 
borhood. 

Fully two-thirds of the people in town were laid out 
to a greater or less degree, and the doctors had a 
hai-vest for awhile. The stage driver was a noted 
character in the town, a negro, and known to every- 
one by the euphonious name of "Shug Evans." I 
suppose it was an abbreviation for sugar, though 
whatever suggested it to his mother, I am at a loss to 
know. On hearing that his passenger could not go on 



120 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

account of illness, he said, "Dar now, what is de use 
of my g-wine all de way up de valley jest to tote dis 
mail, I had dun engaged to take three ladies and every 
lass one of them down wid dem pies. Miss Emily, if 
you got any of dem left, for God sake, give me a piece 
and let me taste 'em and see what ale dem for some- 
thing is de matter wid dem shore. ' ' My aunt replied, 
"Oh no, Shug, I can't give you any, for I do not wish 
to discontinue the mail." 

When General Sheridan wintered in Winchester 
the wives of all the officers of higher and lesser rank 
spent the winter with them. On Sundays, our church 
(the Episcopal) was the scene of many brilliant con- 
gregations, with hundreds of officers in full unifoim — 
officers whose names are now handed down in history. 
I recall one Sunday in the early spring when eveiy- 
body seemed to have turned out to attend services, 
for the church was crowded. The Eev. Thompson 
Marny was our pastor then and positively refused to 
use the prayer for the "President of the United 
States and all others in authority." He was twice 
arrested and threatened with prison, but refused to 
yield, but agreed to omit the prayer. When the 
United States army was not there he said Presi- 
dent of the Confederate States. This particular Sun- 
day there were present General Sheridan and staff — 
Custer, Torbert, Hays, Dwight, Emery, Fessenden, 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 121 

and many others I cannot recall — with their respec- 
tive staffs abounding in gold lace, brass buttons, 
epaulets, etc., the wives of those married accompany- 
ing them. Besides there were hundreds of regimental 
and company officers, making the congregation one 
grand military spectacle. In the midst of the sermon 
a courier marched up the aisle, handed General Sheri- 
dan a dispatch which he opened and read, whispered 
something to the bearer, nodded to Custer and sev- 
eral others, and the whole military part of the con- 
gregation rose en masse and left the church. Some 
unexpected activity in our camp had caused the 
alarm. Mr. Marny might just as well have closed the 
services, for no one listened to him or heard a word 
he said, but all sat wondering what would happen 
next. 

As spring approached the campaign was mapped 
out for what proved to be our last struggle for inde- 
pendence, for our aiTuy was depleted in numbers 
and resources and in no plight to confront our ene- 
mies who had unlimited resources and were thorough- 
ly equipped in every respect. Sheridan had been 
months getting his army in thorough order — drill- 
ing and inspection had been going on daily for 
months, and his army was in magnificent trim when 
they started for Petersburg. I witnessed one of the 
grandest spectacles that can be imagined as they were 



122 EEMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

leaving — 20,000 cavalry passing our house four 
abreast, thoroughly equipped in every detail. Their 
horses, having been in winter quarters so long, had 
been fed high and curried and rubbed until their coats 
shone like satin. Each man had a new saddle, bridle, 
and red blanket, and all their accoutrements such as 
swords, belts, etc., shone like gold. It was a grand 
sight, requiring hours in passing. 

Colonel Kip and Colonel Gillespie came to say 
"good-bye," aiid«-told me the war would soon be over, 
but I did not believe them. Colonel Kip asked if I 
would send him my card as soon as peace was de- 
clared in token of my willingness to receive his at- 
tentions. The next day the express drove up with a 
package from New York, an immense pjTamid cake, 
with Colonel Gillespie's card, hoping I would accept 
it as a parting gift. I immediately sewed it up in 
several cloths to exclude the air and keep it fresh to 
feed my Reb friends on when they came back victo- 
rious, but the only ones who ever tasted it were those 
poor, starved fellows who came back after the sur- 
render. 

General Hancock now assumed command in Sheri- 
dan's place, and a regiment of New York Zouaves 
was on provost duty. Colonel Carr, commanding, 
came to our house to protect us and to board, bring- 
ing Captain Agnus and bride. He is now General 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 123 

Felix Agnus, of Baltimore. My aunt succeeded in en- 
listing their sympathies bj^ constant reference to the 
orphans she was raising and would apply to Colonel 
Carr for help in all matters. Wlien the garden needed 
work, or the carpets were to be shaken, grounds 
cleaned, etc., she would go to him and he would send 
the chain gang of red-legged Zouaves for hours to 
put things in order. It was a novel sight to see fif- 
teen or twenty bloomer-legged soldiers with fez caps 
making the dirt fly in every direction, but my aunt 
did not enjoy it. Later, after seeing we had a good 
supply of garden tools, they came one morning to 
demand ours to clean the public streets. The servant 
had opened up the house early to air when a squad of 
soldiers marched into our parlor (a novel place to 
find garden tools) and the foreman, mistaking his 
own image in the long min-or for the gentleman of the 
house, began to demand the tools. He soon dis- 
covered his mistake and the roar of laughter from 
the squad at his expense aroused us all from our 
sleep. 

My aunt had been begging General Sheridan to 
allow her to go to Baltimore, but he always refused. 
She sent me one day to see what I could do with him. 
He refused me also, saying the weather was too in- 
clement, he could not think of allowing her to run 
such a risk in changing her room. Several weeks 



124 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

later, a bright warm day in March, I was crossing the 
street and I met General Sheridan. As he stepped 
aside to allow me to pass, he remarked, "A perfectly 
lovely day, Miss Riely." I replied, "Yes, just the 
weather for Baltimore." He laughed heartily and 
passed on. That afternoon he sent for me to come to 
headquarters, and presenting me with the pass for 
Baltimore, said, "You caught me so cleverly this 
morning I can no longer refuse." 

The spring campaign opened with a series of dis- 
asters to our army and our poor, half starved, rag- 
ged and broken down men surrendered at Appo- 
matox, the details of which are too sad to relate, and 
are still fresh in our memory. Many returned home 
barefooted and hatless, broken down in health and 
spirits, to begin life over again — property all de- 
stroyed by one army or the other — slaves emanci- 
pated and no money to hire labor with. 

General Fitzhugh Lee, in his history of the life of 
his uncle, General Robert E. Lee, very pathetically re- 
lates the last hours at Appomattox, which I will in- 
sert in these pages, as well as General Lee's farewell 
address to his army. He says the formalities were 
concluded between Generals Grant and Lee without 
dramatic accessories, and then Lee's thoughts turned 
to his hungry, starving veterans and to his prisoners. 
He said to Grant, ' ' I have a thousand or more of your 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 125 

men whom we have required to march along with us 
for days and I shall be glad to send them to your lines 
as soon as can be arranged as I have no provisions 
for them. My own men have been living on parched 
corn for the last few days and we are badly in need 
of rations and forage." The rations sent to the 
Southern army had been captured. When Grant sug- 
gested he would send twenty thousand rations the 
latter told him it would be ample and assured him it 
would be a great relief. The Confederate com- 
mander then left and rode away to break the sad news 
to the brave and faithful troops he had so long com- 
manded. His presence in their midst was an exhi- 
bition of their devotion to their commander. The 
troops gathered in crowds around him, eagerly de- 
siring to shake his hand. They had seen him when his 
eye calmly surveyed miles of fiercely raging conflict, 
had closely observed him when tranquil and com- 
posed. Undisturbed, he had heard the wild shout of 
victory rend the air. Now they saw their beloved 
chieftain a prisoner of war, and sympathy, boundless 
admiration and love for him filled their brave hearts. 
They pressed up to him, anxious to touch his person 
or even his horse, and copious tears washed from 
strong men's cheeks the stain of powder. Slowly and 
painfully, he turned to his soldiers and with voice 
quivering with deep emotion, said, "Men, we have 



126 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

fought through the war together. I have done my 
best for you. My heart is too full to say more." It 
was a simple, but a most affecting scene. 

On the next day he took formal leave of his army. 
After doing so he lifted his hat in silence and rode 
through a weeping army to his home in Richmond. 

Lee's Faeewell Address 

After four years of arduous ser\dce, marked by 
unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the army of 
Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to 
overwhelming numbers and resources. I need not tell 
the survivors of so many hard fought battles who 
have remained steadfast to the last, that I have con- 
sented to this result from no distrust of them, but 
feeling that valor and devotion could accomplish 
nothing that would compensate for the loss that would 
have attended the continuation of the contest, I have 
determined to avoid the useless sacrifice of those 
whose services have endeared them to their country- 
men. You will take with you the satisfaction that 
proceeds from the consciousness of duty faithfully 
performed and I earnestly pray that a merciful God 
will extend to you His blessing and protection. With 
an unceasing admiration for your constancy and de- 
votion to your country and a grateful remembrance 
of your kind, generous consideration of myself, I bid 
you an affectionate farewell. Robt. E. Lee. 

Circumstances and Conditions in Winchester at 
the time of the Surrender 

We had all retired early on Sunday night, the 9th 
of April, having no churches open at night, and we 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 127 

had only been asleep a very short time when we were 
aroused by cannons booming and brass bands play- 
ing at the different headquarters, making such a din 
that we could scarcely recognize the tune of any one 
of them. Hearing soldiers run by the house, we threw 
up the windows and called to know what was the 
matter. The reply was, "Hurrah for Grant. Lee's 
surrendered." We all fell back on our pillows as if 
shot and not a word was spoken, but sobs were 
audible and a sad, sorrowful night we spent. Our 
hearts went out to General Lee more than to any 
other individual, for we well knew what he was suffer- 
ing. All night long this din was kept up and we were 
miserable, for we could hear nothing of the particu- 
lars, as we were cut off from all communication. 

That week General Hancock issued an order that 
the whole town should be illuminated in honor of 
Lee's surrender, and in order that there should be no 
excuse, citizens not able to furnish their own light 
would be supplied by the commissary. I shall always 
regret that I lost the coj^y of the order left at our 
house. Now for this order alone, I can never forgive 
the democrats, many of whom were ex-Confederate 
soldiers, for nominating and voting for him for 
President years afterwards. Imagine a town full of 
Southern people whose hearts were bleeding and torn 
by the sad news that had so recently reached them, 
the particulars of the last battles and the losses 



128 KEMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

sustained all unknown, and fearing the worst 
for their loved ones with Lee, being compelled by 
military force to illuminate in token of their rejoicing 
over our condition. It is needless to say we were all 
wrought up to the highest degree. Groups of people 
were seen in every direction discussing what was best 
to be done and if they would dare to mob our houses 
in event of our refusing to obey orders. Some vowed 
they would die before they would do it. Others felt 
they must, although it nearly broke their hearts. 

Up to four o'clock in the afternoon, we were still 
undecided and had made no effort to obtain candles 
and oil. I concluded to go over to the Conrad's to see 
what they were going to do. They lived opposite to 
us on a hill, and with one other exception owned the 
most conspicuous house and grounds in the town. 
Mr. Conrad was a most determined, brave man 
and a good person to consult with if at all weak in 
your own resolutions. I foimd that he had gone to 
General Hancock's headquarters on that very busi- 
ness, to address him and make an appeal in behalf of 
the citizens. So I waited to hear the result. After 
some time he came, mopping the perspiration from 
his brow, for he was greatly excited. He said that 
after stating the case plainly to the general and mak- 
ing no impression, he said, "Well, General Hancock, 
you can destroy every member of my family and bum 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 129 

my house to the ground but illuminate, I will not." 
He left and awaited the consequences. I said, "What 
must I tell my aunt to do ? " " Tell her to close every 
blind and go to bed without any light, for my house 
shall be conspicuous for its total absence of light." 
I told hhn that I would go over home and tell my aunt 
and return there later, for I could watch our house 
from there and I wanted to see the town when illumi- 
nated, especially the different headquarters, which 
were the largest and handsomest houses, and the 
hotels, which were hospitals. All had been deco- 
rated in the national colors, ready for the ilhunina- 
tion. The McGuire home was near headquarters, but 
Mrs. McGuire was not a timid woman and she had 
closed her blinds and total darkness reigned. 

The town presented a beautiful picture about 8 :30 
P. M. Some of the headquarters were lovely; bands 
were plaj'ing in every direction and cannons boom- 
ing. Angry mobs were gathering around many 
houses, but the most demonstrative one was at the 
McGuire 's. Suddenly all lights were extinguished 
and bands ceased. We could not imagine what was 
the matter, but soon found that news had come flash- 
ing over the wires that Abraham Lincoln had just 
been assassinated in the theater in Washington. 
Lights had been quickly extinguished and the still- 
ness of death settled upon the town. The colors were 



130 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

quickly taken down and replaced by the emblems of 
mourning. We felt it was a judgment sent upon them 
for their disregard of our feelings, but later on we 
learned to feel his death a national calamity, for 
President Davis would never have suffered all the 
indignities heaped upon him, Mrs. Surratt would 
never have been hung in her innocency, and the work 
of reconstruction would have been differently ad- 
ministered, had he lived. 

And here let me say a few words in justification of 
President Davis, for whom Northern people have 
little respect, and I am sorry to say, some in the South 
are inclined to blame him for many misfortunes that 
befell the South, and for the prolongation of the war; 
but all fair-minded people will admit that had he at- 
tempted to make any terms for peace other than a 
recognition of our rights, he would have been con- 
sidered a traitor and mobbed by his people. He was a 
senator from Mississippi when the states began to 
secede and was standing on the floor of the senate 
pleading for the preservation of the Union when the 
telegram came saying that his state had left the 
Union. He reluctantly resigned his place in the sen- 
ate and cast his fortunes with his state. The South, 
to show its recognition of his great ability as a 
statesman, chose him as its leader and elected him 
President, which position he filled to the best of his 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 131 

ability under all the trying circumstances of the war. 
He was, like Lee, a military man by education, a 
graduate of West Point, and rendered distinguished 
military services in Mexico. He was a thorough 
Christian, who lived up to his profession. Even after 
his capture, when he sat in chains, like a felon in a 
prison cell at Fortress Monroe, and had been sub- 
jected to all sorts of cruel indignities, he recognized 
and exemplified that great living principle of charac- 
ter and Christianity — forgiveness — and in reply to 
a direct question from his pastor, was able to take the 
Holy Communion with the assurance to his minister 
that he was at peace with all mankind. He was a 
great man, a typical Southern Christian gentleman, 
and the South will never forget to do him honor. Not 
only so, but the time will come when the North will 
acknowledge that Fitz Lee, Robert E. Lee, and Jeffer- 
son Davis and all the rest of them were not rebels and 
traitors, but honest patriots, true to every American 
principle and loyal to the land that gave them birth. 
The Confederate soldiers now began to return to 
their homes, and Kate returned, with many interest- 
ing accounts of the flight of herself and Fanny Dick- 
ens from Columbia, South Carolina, the headquarters 
of the treasury department. She had lost her trunk 
in the flight, and never expecting to see it again, she 
entertained us with vivid accounts of the many valu- 



132 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

able costumes she had lost in this trunk and the very 
heavy loss she had sustained. Nothing could console 
her for the loss of her new $600 bonnet she had never 
worn, and she never tired of describing its beauty. I 
tried to console her by offering to make her one to 
replace it and she finally consented but did not en- 
thuse much over my production, for the memory of 
her "lost beauty" was too fresh in her mind. We 
had Baltimore styles then and the bonnets were little 
three-cornered pieces that fitted in between the "rats, 
mice and waterfalls," as the style of wearing the hair 
was called. Any little scrap would make a bonnet. 
The family grew weary of her lamentations over the 
lost trunk and tried to console her by telling her she 
ought to be thankful if she never recovered it, for it 
had been expressed and the company was responsible 
and she would get $100. She indignantly resented 
the idea, when she had a six hundred dollar bonnet 
for one thing in it, and that pui-ple calico dress for 
which she had given eleven dollars for one yard. It 
was preposterous — only one hundred dollars for all 
it contained. Months afterwards the express drove 
up with an old dilapidated, war-beaten Saratoga, tied 
with a rope, and so empty (although it had never 
been opened) that when it struck the pavement, it 
sounded as hollow as the grave. As soon as it was 
taken upstairs, black and white gathered around to 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY ]\LA.CON 133 

see the valuable contents of this much talked of gold 
mine. Everybody dived for the bonnet. I am so 
sorry it was destroyed. There was enough ma- 
terial to make six of the style being worn then. It 
was a veritable flower garden of greenery, a bunch 
of roses and vines of the sickliest hues you can 
imagine. The whole crowd exclaimed, "Is this the 
lovely bonnnet! I wouldn't we(ar it in the back 
yard," and all roared with laughter, for Kate's dis- 
gusted expression was scarcely less amusing than the 
bonnet. Throwing it on the floor she gave it a kick, 
saying, "How on earth did I ever imagine this thing 
pretty!" When she had nearly demolished the bon- 
net, she returned to the trunk and seizing the purple 
calico in her anus, she said, "I would rather have 
this than anything else, for I have caught more beaux 
in it than most girls do in silks and satins." 

One could imagine, now that the war was ended and 
blood was no longer to be shed over the land, the 
worst was over and all was plain sailing once more, 
but new and serious complications now stared the 
blighted Sunny South in the face. When we look 
back, we stand aghast and wonder how we ever lived 
to master them. /The Southern men returned to their 
destitute homes broken down from four years of 
arduous life and exposure, broken in health and 
spirits; property, which consisted mainly in slaves, 



134 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

swept from them and their lands laid waste by either 
one army or the other. Never having been reared to 
work they were unfitted by education and four years 
of hard service, to begin life anew, and they were 
perfectly destitute of money. So one can scarce- 
ly imagine a more pitiable aspect than the South pre- 
sented in the spring of 1865 — men returning home 
barefooted and bareheaded and ragged, to find their 
families scarcely less destitute. I often wonder what 
prevented a suicidal mania, such as is sweeping the 
land today, from taking possession of the Southern 
soldier. But the Southern men and women were not 
made up of such material. They had sacrificed their 
all for their country and independence, had never 
shown cowardice on the battlefield and were resolved 
now to conquer their memories, hunger and want 
(which presented themselves on every side) , and with 
the help of their wives and daughters they succeeded 
until now the "New South" is the envy of the land. 
In all their efforts they were assisted by an all wise 
and merciful Providence "who doeth all things well" 
and caused the war to cease just in time for the seed 
time. Had the end come much later we could not 
have raised any crops and winter coming on would 
have found us even more destitute than we were, but 
the end occurring just as it did, followed by a season- 
able year, the yield was great and thanks to His 



EMMA CASSANDRA RIELY MACON 135 

goodness and mercy, winter found our condition more 
hopeful and we were, as we always will be, a happy, 
contented people. 

I trust the coming generation will never experience 
the many sad days of trial and suffering we passed 
through in the South. 



•o^ 



(Added since the Cuban War ended) 

The contrast to me has been marked in the treat- 
ment of the Spanish admiral and President Davis; 
one given luxurious quarters and feasted and feted 
on the best the land afforded, given the limits of the 
city and treated as the guest of the land. The other, 
a poor, delicate, frail man, was doomed to a felon's 
cell, bound in chains, allowed a small space once a 
day to exercise in whilst the crowd outside mocked 
and jeered him in derision until it was a relief to him 
to return to his bare cell where even reading and 
writing matter was denied him. The comfort of an 
occasional visit from his wife was also refused, and 
yet be bore it without a murmur. He was fed upon 
com bread and fat meat. 



EEMINISCENCES OF THE CI^^L WAR 



BY 



REUBEN CONWAY MACON 
Thirteenth Virginia Infantry 
Stonewall Jackson's Corps 




JiEUBEX ('(INWAY MaCON 



REMINISCENCES 

I left my home, Mt. Cliene, in Orange county, Vir- 
ginia, on the 23d day of April, 1861, to join the 
Confederate army, then stationed at Harper's Perry. 
I took the cars at Gordonsville and could go only as 
far as Manassas that day, remaining at Manassas 
that night on board the cars with quite a number of 
recruits who were going to join the companies that 
had gone to Harper's Ferry from Orange. 

These companies were three in number : the Mont- 
pelier Guards under Captain Lewis B. Williams — 
this company was afterwards known as Company A, 
13th Virginia Infantry; second, Gordonsville Greys 
under Captain William C. Scott, afterwards Company 
C, 13th Virginia Infantry; third, Barboursville 
Guards under Captain William S. Parron, afterwards 
Company P, 13th Virginia Infantry. These com- 
panies had left Orange on the 17th day of April, 
1861, the day Virginia seceded from the Union. I 
did not go then as I was not a member of any of 
these companies but followed on sis days later. The 
next morning after reaching Manassas, we took the 
train for Strasburg where we arrived at twelve 
o'clock (noon). 



140 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

A number of farm wagons were there to convey us 
to Winchester, eighteen miles distant, reaching there 
about dark. Here accommodations had been made 
for troops passing through, in a large warehouse 
where we spent the night. The next morning we took 
the cars for Harper's Ferry, where we arrived about 
noon. I joined the " Barboursville Guards" as that 
company was made up of men from my immediate 
neighborhood. 

I found the company quartered in one of the work 
shops of the army, anything but comfortable or desir- 
able as quarters, for the room was filled with machin- 
ery and there was not an inch of space on the floor or 
benches but what was saturated with oil, so in spite 
of all the caution we could exercise, our new uniforms 
and blankets soon became very much defaced. 

The uniforms were very perishable, being gray 
pants and red jackets with white belts and cross 
straps. The troops were hurried from home with 
only about four hours' notice, and it is amusing now 
to recall how they were armed. The best arms of the 
company were flint lock muskets changed to percus- 
sion. There were some thirty of these in good order, 
then came a lot without bayonets and others without 
locks and still others without ramrods and not a cap 
or cartridge in the company. I believe that just 
before reaching Harjier's Ferry there was issued 
three rounds of ammunition to each man. Notwith- 



REUBEN CONWAY MACON 141 

standing their poor equipments, had the enemy ap- 
peared, I am quite sure that after their ammunition 
had become exliausted, they would have used their 
bayonets. 

Drilling now was the order of the day; an hour 
before breakfast, another hour as soon as the meal 
was over, and so on until about six or eight hours a 
day were consumed in that way. I remember the day 
after I enlisted, the company was formed for drill 
and I was ordered to fall in with the rest of the men. 
Never having been instructed, of course I knew noth- 
ing of the manual of arms or the facings, which the 
captain saw at once and ordered Lieutenant Wood 
to take me out of the company and take me through 
the manual and facings. Of course, it was a matter 
of mortification with me to see so many men who were 
inferior to me in education, social position, and every 
other respect, going through movements that I could 
not, so I determined to learn as quickly as possible. 

While Lieutenant Wood was instructing me he 
laughed, and when we stopped, I asked what he was 
laughing at. He said, "I could not help being amused 
to see what strict attention you were paying and how 
rapidly you were learning." After an hour or two 
he took me back to the company and told the captain 
he thought he could put me in the company and this 
was the only separate instruction I ever had. 

We remained at Harper's Ferry several weeks 



142 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

when Major Jackson, afterward known as the famous 
"Stonewall" Jackson, was assigned to the command 
of the troops there. He commenced at once to organ- 
ize the troops into regiments. The three Orange com- 
panies — one from Louisa county, two from Culpep- 
per county, two from Hampshire county (now West 
Virginia), one from Winchester, and one from Balti- 
more, Maryland, composed the 13th Virginia Infan- 
try. The regimental officers were A. P. Hill, colonel ; 
James A. Walker, lieutenant-colonel, and J. B. Ter- 
rell, major. We now commenced battle drill and 
dress parade four times per day. 

Some time the last of May there was an alarm that 
the enemy was approaching by way of Shepherds- 
town. I remember well it was a beautiful evening 
and the troops were ordered to meet them, the 13th 
Virginia in advance. We had only gotten a short 
distance when the clouds began to gather and very 
soon there came on the most terrific hail storm I ever 
experienced in my life. It seemed as though heaven 
was expending its wrath upon us and that we would 
all perish. Many thought the end of the world was 
at hand. Among others. Judge John W. Bell, of 
Culpepper (who was a private in the ranks), prayed 
most fervently that the Lord would spare us and by 
the time his prayer was finished, the sun came out as 
suddenly as it had commenced to hail. The judge 



REUBEN CONWAY MACON 143 

rose, shook himself, and striking his long beard, said, 
* ' Boys, wasn 't that the damnedest hail storm you ever 
saw?" Nor were our troubles over, for the tremen- 
dous fall of hail soon melted into water which flowed 
in every direction, and I can say, without exaggera- 
tion, that we marched for several miles in mud and 
water in many places up to our waists. 

We reached Shepherdstown after dark, cold and 
wet to the skin, and covered with mud from head to 
foot. The good citizens made arrangements to get us 
all under shelter and many were furnished with de- 
lightful suppers, but upon this occasion my good luck 
forsook me for I did not get a mouthful. I remember 
my good friend and cousin, Conway Newman, and 
several others of the company with myself, were 
shown to a room where there was nothing but a fire 
place and a ewer; plenty of wood was provided and 
we soon had a good fire. Some of the men disap- 
peared with the ewer and soon returned with it full 
of whiskey — there being any quantity of that to be 
had without money or price. After a drink or two 
around, the fun commenced. The men began pat- 
ting, singing and dancing which they kept up until 
day. 

Soon after our fire was lighted, Conway Newman 
and myself saw that we were so plastered over with 
mud that even after drying it, it would be impossible 



144 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

to inib it off without rubbing our clothes to pieces. 
There was but one thing to do and that was to wash 
it off, which was easy to do as there was a pump in 
the backyard of the house we were in. I got under 
the spout and he pumped water on me until I got the 
mud off of myself, pumping the water all over my 
head, back, and limbs; then, he got under and I 
pumped on him. We were really no wetter than we 
were before, but the mud was all gone. We now went 
back to the room and after taking off and wringing 
our uniforms, holding and turning them to the fire, 
we became reasonably diy by morning. It was about 
the best thing we could have done as there was not a 
chair, bench, table, or bed ; in fact, nothing except the 
aforementioned ewer. We had to stand or squat 
around the fire all night, whilst our roommates were 
dancing, singing, and drinking, the supply of whiskey 
being often replenished during the night. 

Morning at last dawned and after pulling our 
clothes out and doing our best to make them presenta- 
ble, we appeared on the street and were soon taken 
in by some kind gentleman to breakfast with his 
family. Such a breakfast it was : tea, rolls, biscuits, 
beefsteak, syrup, and many other good things, which 
to a lot of soldiers who had marched ten or twelve 
miles through a hail storm and mud and had eaten 
nothing since 12 :00 M. the day before or slept a wink 



KEUBEN CONWAY MACON 145 

that night, was a feast never to be forgotten. The 
ladies of the house waited on us and insisted we did 
not eat like soldiers who had had such a terrible march 
but I am sure it was only said by way of making us 
feel comfortable. I omitted to say all this suffering 
and marching was for naught as it was a false alarm. 
As soon as breakfast was over, the troops were 
formed and the return march to Harper's Ferry com- 
menced with as footsore and broken down a lot of 
men as is often seen. This was our first march. We 
little dreamed what was before us for the next four 
years. 

We remained in Harper's Ferry until June, when 
after all the machinery of the armory had been 
shipped to Richmond to be used in the armory there, 
we fell back to Winchester. General Joseph E. John- 
ston had been put in command of the troops. We 
remained there several weeks when an expedition of 
two regiments under Colonel A. P. Hill was sent to 
Eomney, Hampshire county, forty miles distant. Be- 
ing Colonel Hill's regiment, of course the 13th Vir- 
ginia was in advance. We made the march in two 
days, sent a detachment to New Creek on the B. & 
0. E. E., which dispersed a small force of the enemy 
there, without a capture. We returned to Winches- 
ter where we remained until General Patterson ad- 
vanced to Martinsburg. Then we marched to Darks- 



146 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

ville to meet him and offered him battle for three 
days, which he declined. 

Martinsburg being surrounded by stone fences and 
other good means of defence, General Johnston 
thought it inexpedient to attack him at that point. 
Johnston remained around Winchester coquetting 
with Patterson until July when one evening the order 
came to pack and be ready to march. In an hour we 
were on the road to Piedmont Station, Manassas E. 
R., where trains were to meet the troops and convey 
them to Manassas Junction for the first battle there. 
We made a forced march, wading the Shenandoah 
Eiver at Berry's Ferry and then took the cars to 
Manassas, reaching there about noon and were hur- 
ried off to the Confederate right but were not en- 
gaged in the fight as there was no demonstration in 
our front. We remained around Manassas for a few 
days after the battle and were then sent to a camp 
near Fairfax Station where we remained the rest of 
the summer and part of the fall. 

We then went into winter quarters at Camp Walk- 
er, about a mile from Manassas. This was our first 
winter in the army and each "mess" had to put up its 
own hut. In the mess with me were Conway New- 
man, Oscar Fitzhugh, C. Linn Graves, and Thomas 
A. Marshall. We soon went to work and had a log 
hut 14 ft. by 14 ft. We had to carry the logs upon 



REUBEN CONWAY MACON 147 

our shoulders for a half a mile, each taking an end, 
and in this way we carried them to where the camp 
was located. We remained in this camp all winter, 
doing little but camp guard and picket duty. The 
picket line was some four miles off where the differ- 
ent regiments taking it by turns would stay a week. 

I remember on one occasion when my regiment was 
doing picket duty, we had quite a snow storm and my 
company was in reserve and there was a negro cabin 
near by where the reserve was quartered. My 
"mess" determined to try and rent the house for the 
night which we succeeded in doing, the negroes mov- 
ing out to a neighbor's in consideration of the rent we 
paid. We took possession and found quite a com- 
fortable looking bed in there. When we went to 
spread down our blankets on the floor for beds, the 
negro servant (who always went with us) undressed 
and retired in the bed. Whilst there were a half a 
dozen white men lying on the floor, one negro was 
comfortably resting in the bed. 

The 9th of March, 1862, we broke camp at Manassas 
and began to retire in the direction of Gordonsville 
as McClellan was advancing upon Richmond by way 
of the peninsula. It was on this march that we first 
began to feel the pangs of hunger that were so 
familiar to us afterwards. I rememl>er when we 
reached the Rappahannock river, our supplies were 



148 REMLNISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

exhausted and a lot of sheep were killed and issued 
to us without salt. My mess felt that we would be 
more fortunate than others as we had packed in the 
wagon a remnant of what was issued to us to cook up 
for the march and among other things, a little coffee 
and salt. Imagine our sore disappointment in this 
our time of gnawing hunger and need to find that in 
the hurry of packing, the salt and coffee had gotten 
mixed, making both useless. 

We continued our march to Gordonsville where all 
the troops were hurried to meet McClellan, except 
Ewell's division of which my regiment was a part. 
In a day or two, we moved as far as Liberty Mills on 
the Newmarket pike. Here we remained some days 
when the regiment was reorganized ; that is, an elec- 
tion of officers took place (both regimental and com- 
pany). A. P. Hill having been promoted to brigadier- 
general, J. A. Walker was elected colonel ; J. B. Ter- 
rel, lieutenant-colonel; J. B. Sherrard, major, and 
William S. Giymes, surgeon. The officers in my com- 
pany (F) were Captain A. J. Ehart, Lieutenants C. 
L. Graves, Conway Newman, and R. C. Macon. 

In a day or two we marched by way of Stewards- 
ville to Conrad's Station in Rockingham county to 
join "Stonewall" Jackson on his famous Valley 
campaign. After remaining here for two weeks, we 
were on the march again and took the route down 



REUBEN CONWAY MACON 149 

the Luray valley to Front Royal where we encoun- 
tered the Union forces, a part of General Banks's 
army. We soon put them to flight and captured a 
number of wagons, supplies and prisoners. Promi- 
nent among them was Colonel Kenley 's 1st Marjdand 
Cavalry. The next morning we moved on to Win- 
chester where we expected to have a big battle, but, 
after a feeble resistance, Banks retreated down the 
Valley, leaving many valuable stores in Winchester 
and burning most of his wagon train. We captured 
2,500 or 3,000 prisoners. We followed him as far as 
Hall Town, near Harper's Ferry, when Jackson re- 
ceived information that Fremont was advancing 
through West Virginia with a large force and Gen- 
eral Shields was marching by way of Front Royal 
and they were to unite in his rear and capture his 
army. 

We now commenced a forced march to escape 
them, being encumbered with our captured supplies 
and a large number of prisoners, but we made all 
possible haste. When our rear guard passed Stras- 
burg, the point General Fi*emont expected to reach 
in rear of Jackson, it was just one-half an hour be- 
fore Fremont's advance guard arrived. From this 
time on, it was a constant skirmish between the rear 
of our army and the advance of the enemy. During 
all this time, there was no chance to unload wagons 
for supplies or to cook them. Our troops were brok- 



150 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 



en down, hungry, and footsore from constant march- 
ing on short rations, and really had nothing for two 
days. This rimning fight was kept up until Sun- 
day, when we had reached Cross Keys, six or eight 
miles east of Harrisonburg, in Rockingham county. 
When Jackson determined to give Fremont battle, 
it was a lovely Sabbath day and we were deployed to 
attack "Blankers Dutch" division. We advanced 
through a rye field. The grain this June day was as 
high as our heads and there was a battery of artillery 
playing upon us as we advanced. The infantiy was 
concealed in a piece of woodland. They fired several 
volleys and fell back. Here I received my first 
wound (June 6, 1862), a ball in my right thigh, but 
I did not leave the field until the fight was over. Our 
regiment lost eight or ten men. I still have this ball 
in my thigh as the surgeons were never able to reach 
it with their probes. I was wounded on Simday 
morning and I had not had a mouthful of anything to 
eat since the Friday before. "Wlien I reached the 
hospital, Rev. John William Jones, our chaplain (af- 
terwards chaplain to General Robert E. Lee), brought 
me some biscuits and a cup of black tea and I thought 
it the most delightful morsel that had ever passed 
my lips. The next day I was sent to Charlottesville 
and from there I reached home where I remained 
about a month, missing the seven days' fight around 



REUBEN CONWAY MACON 151 



Eichmond, but I returned to my command in time for 
the battle of Slaughter's Mountain, where Jackson 
again defeated General Banks, then under General 
Pope. After this battle, we returned to our camp 
south of the Rapidan river and remained until some 
time in August, when we went around Pope's rear 
and captured Manassas, and fighting the second 
Manassas battle, Groveton and others forcing Pope's 
army back upon Washington. 

Now the army advanced into Maryland, fighting 
the battles of South Mountain and Sharpsburg. Upon 
this march my faithful negro servant, Cornelius, 
died. After Sharpsburg, Lee crossed the Potomac 
and we remained in camp until we started on the 
march to Fredericksburg to meet Bumside, who was 
advancing upon Eichmond by that route. This was 
a march of more than a hundred miles for troops who 
had been almost constantly on the road since the 9th 
of March and in cold weather, with many of the men 
without shoes or overcoats, for they were very scarce, 
but as usual with Confederate soldiers, they moved 
off cheerfully, and full of confidence that with such 
a leader as General Lee, victory would be theirs. 

It was no uncommon sight to see men marching 
with moccasins on their feet made from the hide of 
the beef that was killed the night before. I never 
came near being barefooted but once. My boots 



152 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

would hardly bold together. I was passing one of 
our wagons when the negro driver seeing my condi- 
tion, said: "Lieutenant, I have a good pair of shoes 
I will sell you." I was glad of the opportunity so 
asked him to let me see them. He brought out a half 
worn pair of shoes and said that I could have them 
for twenty dollars. I took them, but that night one 
of our men, who had been home on sick leave, joined 
the command and he brought me a pair of boots sent 
by my good, thoughtful mother, so the shoes were on 
the market again and soon found a willing purchaser. 
We marched rapidly, passing through Orange 
Court House, but it was impossible for any of us to 
call at home, and we could only see our friends as 
they marched along by the side of us. We reached 
Fredericksburg some time the early part of Decem- 
ber and occupied the Confederate right, where we 
fought on the 13th of the same month. We were 
heavily engaged imtil after dark, when the firing was 
over for the night. We were relieved by other troops 
and fell back a few hundred yards Ijut were still on 
the battle field. We were ordered to lie down and 
make ourselves as comfortable as possible without 
fire as that was prohibited though it was a cold night. 
We wrapped up in our blankets and were soon asleep. 
When I laid down, I saw sometliing near me which I 
took for an old log. We were in the woods and had 



REUBEN CONWAY MACON 153 

no light. I could have touched it by stretching out 
my hand. Imagine my surprise when I awoke next 
morning to find it was a dead Union soldier. 

This was a cold frosty morning and we were soon 
placed in position on a high ridge where we had full 
view of Bumside's army drawn up in an open field 
in three lines as far as the eye could see. It was the 
finest display that I saw during the war. Every 
man seemed to be draped in a new suit of blue with 
fine overcoats and the reflection of the sun on their 
bright guns dazzled the eye. 

Shortly after being in position on this ridge, there 
came along one of the "Tiger" battalions from New 
Orleans. This battalion was made up principally of 
Irishmen from the wharves, brave fighters, but equal- 
ly noted for their love of plunder. As these fellows 
came up, one of our men said : ' ' Pat, look over yon- 
der. The whole face of the earth is covered with 
Yankees." "Faith," said he, "if they come this 
way, I will have an overcoat before night." He evi- 
dently had visions of stripping a dead man before 
night fell. 

It really did seem strange that our ragged legions 
could repel such a splendidly equipped army as that 
in front of us. We remained in position all day ex- 
pecting an attack, but none came, and that night we 
again fell back and slept as we did the night before. 



154 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

The next morning we were surprised to find Bumside 
had taken his army across the river to their former 
camp. 

We now went hard to work putting up huts for our 
winter quarters, as it was very cold. We soon had 
them up and made ourselves comfortable. This 
camp was a half mile from Hamilton's Crossing on 
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Rail- 
road. We spent the winter in camp except when on 
picket duty on the Rappanhannock river. We would 
be on one bank of the river and the Yankee pickets 
on the other, and we would exchange tobacco for 
coffee and also exchange newspapers by sending them 
across in miniature boats the soldiers would con- 
struct. 

My regiment was on picket duty April 27th, when 
"Fighting Joe" Hooker commenced to cross the 
river, he having succeeded Bumside in command of 
the United States army. He had a larger army than 
Bumside 's and was very confident of carrying every- 
thing before him. My division, commanded by Gen- 
eral Early, was left before Fredericksburg to watch 
Sedgwick's forces, while the rest of Jackson's corps 
went off on an expedition to flank the other portion 
of Hooker's army which he accomplished and soon 
had Hooker on the north side of the river in the same 
old camps. I had now been promoted to adjutant of the 
13th and our brave and gallant Colonel J. A. Walker 



EEUBEN CONWAY MACON 155 

had been made brigadier-general and put in command 
of the famous "Stonewall Brigade." 

The weather was getting waiTO and roads were 
improving which meant the army would soon be mov- 
ing. So the first part of June, our corps (now com- 
manded by General Ewell) started for the Valley 
and soon surprised and captured most of Milroy's 
army at Winchester with all of their trains, supplies, 
etc. Milroy barely escaped, and soon the rest of 
Lee's army was up and the advance into Pennsyl- 
vania was begun. The large number of prisoners and 
enormous amount of supplies captured made it nec- 
essarj' to leave a provost guard at Winchester. 

My regiment was detailed for this purpose, causing 
us to miss the battle of Gettysburg, '^^^lile on this 
duty, the officers boarded with the citizens of the 
town. With a number of others, I boarded with a 
most excellent lady. Miss Long. One evening, while 
at supper, she said to me and the other officers at the 
table, that there were some young ladies in the par- 
lor and she would be glad to have us go in and meet 
them. We went in and I was seated by Miss Emma 
Riely, a young lady just barely in her teens. When 
it was time for them to leave, I escorted her home, 
and this was the way I met my wife. It is needless 
for me to say that my stay in Winchester was the 
most delightful part of my army experience. 

Of course, after the battle of Gettysburg, Lee was 



156 REMINISCENCES OP THE CIVIL WAR 

soon back in Virginia and we were again on the march 
for the Eapidan, where we again iconfronted the 
Union army, now under General Meade. We soon 
went into winter quarters at Sommersville's Ford. 
Here, the night before Christmas, a man from Com- 
pany F who was in the guard house escaped and went 
twenty miles overland and I was detailed to go after 
him, so I was soon on the road to his mother's house. 
There he was sitting by the fire. I ordered him out 
but he refused to come so there was nothing to do but 
to take the guard in and bring him out by force. His 
old mother (Mrs. Annie Thomas) was in the room 
with him and as I approached her son, she jerked up 
the shovel and threw a shovel full of fire and ashes in 
my face, blinding me and singeing my eyebrows and 
eyelashes. She had evidently heard of fighting the 
devil with fire. The guard soon had the old lady by 
the wrist and I marched the man out and soon had 
him on the road to camp. She afterwards told some 
of the neighbors that if I had only been a little later 
she would have fixed me for she had a kettle of water 
on the fire but when she put her hand in it, she found 
it was not hot enough for the purpose. Had it been, 
she would have thrown it in my eyes instead of the 
fire. 

The February we were in this camp, I had the most 
delightful recreation of the war. My betrothed wrote 
me from Winchester that she and several friends 



REUBEN CONWAY MACON 157 

were going on a visit to Dr. Meems's fine home in 
ShenandoaJi county and she hoped I would be able to 
get a furlough and meet them there. Of course I lost 
no time in applying for leave, which I readily got as 
I had been in the army three years and this was my 
first application. I was off as soon as my furlough 
was received and I reached Dr. Meems's a day or two 
after the arrival of the young ladies and a most de- 
lightful two weeks we spent. 

It was a large house and was filled with guests, all 
young people bent on pleasure, and certainly there 
never was a be%'y of more beautiful ladies imder one 
roof. Misses Betty Gordon and Constance Kearney, 
of Luray, Misses Amelia and Ella Murphy, of Wood- 
stock, and Misses Fanny Daniel and Nannie O'Ban- 
non, of Jefferson, Misses Lelia Meems and Sallie 
Lionberger, and last, but by no means least, Misses 
Kate and Emma Reily, of Winchester. 

We remained at Summerville Ford until May when 
the Union army commenced to advance under Gen- 
erals Grant and Meade by way of the Wilderness. 
We, of course, moved to meet them and in a flank 
movement of General Gordon on the 6th of May, 
1864, 1 received a wound in the shoulder that disabled 
me for life and is discharging to this day, thirty-three 
years after the infliction. We lost heavily in this 
movement, though we carried our point. 

Among the prominent officers wounded were my 



158 REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR 

commander, Brigadier- General John Pegram and 
Major, now Senator Daniel, who was chief of Gen- 
eral Early's staff. I was never in active service 
after this though I was once or twice with the army 
arranging to be placed on the retired list, where I 
was placed the following February with orders to 
report to General Kemper (after the expiration of 
my furlough) for conscript duty, but before I had 
reported, Lee had surrendered and the war was over. 
I have written this story, thirty-five years after the 
time I first entered the army, thinking it might be 
interesting to some of my descendants after I shall 
have passed away, but I want them to know it has 
been written without diary or memorandum of any 
kind to aid me and I have no doubt, for the want of 
such reminders, many interesting incidents of my 
personal experience have been overlooked. I have 
tried to write in such a way that should it ever be 
necessary to establish the fact of my being in the 
Confederate army, my life in it might be traced day 
by day from the time I entered until the 6th day of 
May, 1864, when I received the wound that penna- 
nently disabled me. 



SOME GENEALOGICAL FACTS RELATING TO 
THE MACON FAMILY 

The earliest known ancestor in America of Reuben 
Conway Macon was Gideon Macon, of New Kent 
county, Virginia. He was secretary to Sir William 
Berkeley, governor of the Virginia colony. He was 
one of the original subscribers (1678) to the fund 
raised for the first rebuilding of Bruton Church at 
Williamsburg, Virginia, and later, a vestryman of 
that church. He was the great-grandfather of 
Martha (Dandridge-Custis) Washington. 

James Madison, Sr., father of President Madi- 
son, was the great-grandfather of Reuben Conway 
Macon. 

The wife of James Madison, Sr., was Nellie Rose 
Conway. 

The grandmother of Reuben Conway Macon on 
his mother's side was Lucy Barbour. 

The mother of Emma Cassandra Biely was Cath- 
erine Brent. 



DESCENDANTS OF EEUBEN CONWAY 

MACON AND EMMA CASSANDRA 

EIELY MACON 



Children 

Reverend Clifton Macon 

Oakland, California 
(Janet Bruce) 

Emma Brent (Macon) Stair 
York, Pennsylvania 
(Jacob Stair) 

Kate Conway (Macon) Paul- 
son 

Sewickley, Pennsylvania 
(Prank Grormly Paulson) 

James Conway Macon 

Sewickley, Pennsylvania 
(Armistead Taliaferro) 

Latimer Small Macon 

Orange, Virginia 
(Milly Slagle) 

James Riely Macon 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Evelyn Madison (Macon-At- 
wood) Talcott 

New Rochelle, New York 
(Henry Dickson Atwood, 

Deceased) 
(Harry Pickard Talcott) 

Sewickley, Pennsylvania, Decem- 
ber, 1911 

K. C. M. Paulson 



Grandchildren 

Margaret Bruce Macon 
Emma Macon 



Jacob Stair, Jr. 
Virginia Gordon Stair 

Charles Henry Paiilson 
Daniel McKee Paulson 



Latimer Small Macon, Jr. 
Jacob Slagle Macon 



Henry Martyn Atwood 



JAN 17 1S12 



